Rating: 
Summary: If we could make better humans ... why shouldn't we?
Review: James Watson, codiscoverer of the structure of DNA, asked, "If we could make better humans ... why shouldn't we?" That question is at the core of this book, and Gregory Stock responds in the affirmative. Not that we have a choice, he asserts; genetic engineering is coming whether we like it or not. And he makes a damn good case.Rather than getting right to it, however, he begins with an anti-Kurzweil chapter. Ray Kurzweil is the author of the Age of Spiritual Machines, which projects the rapid development of artificial intelligence during the next few decades and the integration of human and machine intelligence (see my review). Stock argues that the interface between the human nervous system and silicon would be incredibly complex, making it highly unlikely we will be physically integrated with our computers within this timeframe. He believes that we will communicate much more effectively with the machines through our senses, becoming fyborgs (functional cyborgs). Then he moves on to the main course, beginning with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Physicians have been performing genetic testing of embryos since 1989, with screening now available for a handful of genetic diseases. This technology will continue to expand, allowing parents to select specific embryos for implantation in the uterus, effectively enabling us to have children with certain genetic tendencies. The next advance, germinal choice technologies (GCT), will arrive within the next decade or two, allowing us to enhance our children's naturally occurring genetic inheritance. Artificial chromosomes, loaded with selected genes, might be the foundation. Stock understands how divisive this issue will be, but argues that it can't be halted (not that he wants to stop it). He argues effectively for a reasonable degree of regulation, although he believes that the ultimate decision must remain in the hands of parents. This is a book focused more on ethics and issues rather than technology. If you're interested more in the nuts and bolts of genetic engineering, look elsewhere. Whether you agree with him or not, Stock lays out the issues and his answers in a clear and compelling manner. It's an excellent exposition of the subject, one worth studying.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BEGINNING TURNS TO MUSH
Review: The first half of this book was interesting and original. Stock distinguishes between a cyborg and a "fyborg." His arguments that it doesn't make sense to embed a silicone chip in your head or body when the same result can be achieved with the chip in your pocket was very convincing. His best reason to avoid going cyborg was that upgrades of fyborgian, worn, devices are so much easier than upgrades to implanted chips.
When he discused adding genetic elements to man, his suggestion of adding an artificial chromosome number 47 in which to house gene modules is again intriguing. If the genetic implants were all in the artificial chromosome then enzymes could be used to turn the whole chromosome on or off if the need arises. However, his comparison of artificial chromosomes to current computer software is quite a stretch. Tinkering with existing genes in existing chromosomes could and has ended in disaster, not to mention law suits.
Stocks squirts a lot of ink about PGD, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, genetic based medicine, IVF, in vitro fertilization but about mid book he begins to wade into the waters of dreams and pipe dreams. Although germline therapy is currently close to being black listed he seems to speculate endlessly about the future of human genetic enhancements-pros and cons. If only he had gotten into the nitty-gritty details such as Aldous Huxley gave us in his fantasy, BRAVE NEW WORLD.
Rating: 
Summary: falls a bit short
Review: This book is meant to be a survey of the technical and ethical issues surrounding emerging technologies in biology. The book takes a generally positive view of genetic engineering, although the arguments tend to boil down to: 1. We can't stop it.
2. We already do it to some extent.
3. If you try to stop it, what are you going to tell the parents of children with horrible diseases?
4. We can mostly rely on individual choice to sort out the moral issues. On most issues, that's about as deep as the analysis gets in this book. Here is an example of an issue where Stock's level of analysis is not satisfying. Suppose that it becomes possible to replace a child who dies in an auto accident by using cloning. In thinking about this, I believe we have to do more than look at the first-order impact it has on the parents of a dead child. We need to look at second-order and third-order effects.
Teenagers are pretty reckless as it is. Imagine that a teenager says, "what the heck. If this gets me killed, my parents can always just clone me." What is the end result? Stock is most valuable in describing the ways in which it might be possible to design people with chromosomes today that might be programmed or re-programmed in later years, depending on how research turns out. That is an interesting concept, and one that I certainly had not thought of before. He also is well considered to have a chapter on "the enhanced and the unenhanced." I came away from that chapter thinking that trying to regulate these technologies is going to be like trying to regulate athletes at the Olympics. The lines are going to be hard to draw and harder to enforce. On the whole, this is a worthwhile book for those interested in the topic. But in my opinion it falls a bit short of being a definitive work.
Rating:
Summary: An uncompromising look at our human future
Review: With insight and intelligence Gregory Stock discusses the future possibilities of human genetic engineering. He is willing to state that when these technologies are safely available and we have the ability to alter our genes and control our genetic destiny, it will be very difficult for us to walk away and decide to ignore or criminalize the ability to cure hereditary disease or extend life. Stock has written a brave and uncompromising book, and whether you are thrilled or angered by his words, it is likely to be a book that helps frame our human future.
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