Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers [Paperback]

Ruth Hubbard (Author), Elijah Wald (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0807004316 | ISBN-13: 978-0807004319 | Publication Date: May 1, 1999 | Edition: 3

How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers

Editorial Reviews

Review

'With their rich array of citations and examples . . . [Hubbard and Wald] show how the marriage of science and business . . . has created that most treacherous of American progeny: commerce masquerading as human liberation.'

--Daniel Callahan, The New York Times Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press; 3 edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807004316
• ISBN-13: 978-0807004319
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.5 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #607,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Earth-Shaking Paradigm Shift from a Very Prominent Biologist, October 28, 2004

By 

Gayle Madwin (Sacramento, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers (Paperback)

Ruth Hubbard is a professor emerita of biology at Harvard and a member of the Council for Responsible Genetics, a prominent national bioethics board. In this book (co-written with her son-in-law, Elijah Wald), she takes everything you think you know about genes, genetic health care screening, DNA fingerprinting, the Human Genome Project, and the search for a gay gene and other behavior-related genes, and blows your mind by explaining, point by point, exactly how unreliable, meaningless, and discriminatory each of these much-lauded technologies is. After reading this book, you'll never read a newspaper article about the latest genetic study the same way again. Don't miss it.

20 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The work of a good scientist, an abysmal social commentator, August 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers (Paperback)

Hubbard does deserve credit for throwing some skepticism on "the next big thing" in science, genetic technology. Unfortunately, she combines her skeptical analysis with her hopelessly egalitarian political views, obscuring any positive contributions this book could have. Hubbard goes through every expected cliche - Nazi imagery (social pundits never tire of this), playing the "race card, and discouraging scientific progress as "unneccessary". Read this book only if you wish to glimpse the future of awful politically-correct rhetoric.

15 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The author breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics., October 1, 1998

By 

William Sardi (San Dimas, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators , and Law Enforders (Paperback)

A 5-star book. If there weren't so much hype about gene therapy there would be no need for this book. But bad science and misinformation coming from those with commercial or political interests has given the American public the idea that gene therapy has possibilities. To date, gene therapy has not cured one disease. Ruth Hubbard finally breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics.