Genetic Engineering: Shaping the Material of Life

Scientists today are able to manipulate the genetic information contained in the DNA molecule, creating new variations in the forms life takes. But this new capability has posed new questions: What changes are truly desirable for humankind? Should “new life forms” be patented? What regulations are needed to prevent the release of harmful variants into the environment? Genetic Engineering provides the background for under-standing this new science and deals with the controversial questions surrounding it.