Exploding the Gene Myth
Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers is a 1993 book by biologist Ruth Hubbard and her son Elijah Wald, published by Beacon Press. The book is critical of many potential and actual uses of human genetic information, such as attempts to develop personalized medical treatments for diseases based on an individual's genome.[1] A second edition was published in 1999, adding discussions of cloning and pharming, among other subjects.[2]
Author | Ruth Hubbard, Elijah Wald |
---|---|
Language | English |
Subject | Human genetics |
Genre | Non-fiction |
Publisher | Beacon Press |
Publication date | 1993 |
Pages | 206 |
ISBN | 0807004197 |
OCLC | 36383140 |
Reviews
In his review of the book's first edition, Alan H. Goodman praised it as a "worthwhile read" and "an antidote to the rise of geneticization", while also admitting that he did not consider it to be "categorically the best book it could have been".[3] In another mixed review, William J. McIntyre criticized the authors' biased presentation of the role played by DNA in human traits, while also describing the book as "good and valuable reading".[4] Behavior geneticist David Rowe praised the book's discussion of socially controversial aspects of human genetics, but claimed that it failed to provide "either an evenhanded or accurate treatment of molecular and behavioral genetics."[5]
References
- Holtzman, Neil A. (1993-11-25). "Book Review Exploding the Gene Myth By Ruth Hubbard and Elijah Wald. 206 pp., illustrated. Boston, Beacon Press, 1993. $24. 0-8070-0418-9". New England Journal of Medicine. 329 (22): 1662–1663. doi:10.1056/NEJM199311253292223. ISSN 0028-4793.
- Corneliussen, Filippa (2002-03-01). "Book Review: Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers. By Ruth Hubbard and Elijah Wald. Boston: Beacon Press, 1999. 225 pages". Qualitative Sociology. 25 (1): 173–174. doi:10.1023/A:1014385014444. ISBN 0-8070-0431-6. ISSN 1573-7837.
- Goodman, Alan H. (February 1995). "Exploding the gene myth: How genetic information is produced and manipulated by scientists, physicians, employers, insurance companies, educators, and law enforcers. By Ruth Hubbard and Elijah Wald. Boston: Beacon Press. 1993. ISBN 0-8070-0418-9 (cloth), 0-8070-0419-7 (paper). 206 pp. $24.00 (cloth), $12.00 (paper)". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 96 (2): 199–201. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330960211. ISSN 0002-9483.
- McIntyre, William J. (1995-12-01). "Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers". American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 52 (23): 2760. doi:10.1093/ajhp/52.23/2760. ISSN 1079-2082.
- Rowe, David C. (September 1994). "Gene Myths or Gene Realities?". Contemporary Psychology: A Journal of Reviews. 39 (9): 878–879. doi:10.1037/034624.