Making Genes, Making Waves: A Social Activist in Science [Hardcover]

Jon Beckwith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0674009282 | ISBN-13: 978-0674009288 | Edition: 1

In 1969, Jon Beckwith and his colleagues succeeded in isolating a gene from the chromosome of a living organism. Announcing this startling achievement at a press conference, Beckwith took the opportunity to issue a public warning about the dangers of genetic engineering. Jon Beckwith's book, the story of a scientific life on the front line, traces one remarkable man's dual commitment to scientific research and social responsibility over the course of a career spanning most of the postwar history of genetics and molecular biology.

A thoroughly engrossing memoir that recounts Beckwith's halting steps toward scientific triumphs--among them, the discovery of the genetic element that turns genes on--as well as his emergence as a world-class political activist, Making Genes, Making Waves is also a compelling history of the major controversies in genetics over the last thirty years. Presenting the science in easily understandable terms, Beckwith describes the dramatic changes that transformed biology between the late 1950s and our day, the growth of the radical science movement in the 1970s, and the personalities involved throughout. He brings to light the differing styles of scientists as well as the different ways in which science is presented within the scientific community and to the public at large. Ranging from the travails of Robert Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb to the Human Genome Project and recent "Science Wars," Beckwith's book provides a sweeping view of science and its social context in the latter half of the twentieth century. (20021116)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Even though science indisputably affects society, many believe that science should not be used as a tool for social activism. Beckwith, a pioneering geneticist, argues that, quite the contrary, scientists have a special duty to society by virtue of the kind of work they do. Beckwith's social commitment, amply illustrated in the causes he has supported, is evident throughout this fast-paced memoir. As far back as 1969, when he announced the discovery of a technique for isolating a gene, Beckwith cautioned of the possibly dire consequences of genetic engineering. Many of the most difficult ethical choices confronting modern science have emerged from his field, and he is especially worried when biological explanations are proposed for complex human behaviors. This first-person testimony to a life dedicated equally to science and social responsibility belongs in history and sociology of science collections. Gregg Sapp, Science Lib., SUNY at Albany
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From The New England Journal of Medicine

Those of us who are old enough to have experienced the 1960s but young enough to remember them with fondness and clarity will recall a time of great ferment. There was an air of excitement and possibility, but it was tinged with anxiety about losing a certain sense of order that was inherent in our existing institutions. Today, when ordinary citizens feel entitled to participate in all aspects of government and the leaders of corporations and universities are often preoccupied with public perceptions, it is difficult to conceive how unusual it was to question the status quo in the post-McCarthy era. In particular, activism was rare in the scientific community. The potential dissonance between intellectual endeavor and political activity, best illustrated by the unfortunate experience of Robert Oppenheimer and some of his colleagues on the Manhattan Project, is at the heart of this entertaining and engaging memoir by Jon Beckwith. The author, a scientist who was a major participant in the revolution in molecular biology that informs present-day biomedical research, shares his experiences as a world-class scientist and a forceful advocate for the scientist's responsibility to society. His dual role was a difficult one. At the outset, many of his colleagues chose to remain steadfastly apolitical or to drop out of science altogether. In retrospect, it is clear that, thanks to his respect for open-mindedness and his iconoclastic streak, Beckwith's career was bound to bridge the worlds of science and the larger society. The story is, above all, that of a scientist and is told in a straightforward, almost blunt style. As is the case in the realm of politics, much of what is routine today in biology was virtually unheard of then. The author's initial work of inserting into a viral genome foreign genes that regulate lactose utilization was an early precursor of a routine step in gene cloning. Mentors helped Beckwith develop a logical approach to science and, eventually, served as role models for combining a career in science with political activism. In 1969, Beckwith's group isolated the gene for (beta)-galactosidase. By the time the report of this accomplishment appeared in Nature, the authors' misgivings led to a press conference in which they expressed the concern that this exciting new technology could be used for evil as well as for good. The reaction they elicited was intense; it was a different world in the 1960s. As the author states, "discourse among scientists simply did not include discussions of the social impact of science." The resulting furor marked only the beginning of Beckwith's career as a social activist. He was revered and reviled for his support of the Black Panthers, Communist China, and the Sandinistas. Often, the context of his politics and his science was lost in the novelty of his willingness to speak out. By 1980, he sought to inject a sense of objectivity into these debates, pointing out that uncritical acceptance of any position by any political group was not appropriate, and he expressed this view in popular as well as scientific venues. The prime focus of Beckwith's concern has become the relations between science and society. In particular, the sophistication of the public, though increasing rapidly, has not kept pace with progress in genetics. Beckwith's extended critique of eugenics is a valuable resource for those who wish to examine the potential misapplication of science. He sees as the intellectual progeny of the eugenics movement the recent efforts toward developing a simplified sociobiology that can attribute complex types of behavior to specific genes. In the context of such analysis, the efforts of this basic scientist to affect the decisions of the institutional review board for clinical studies at Harvard become not only understandable but virtually obligatory. Seeking an explanation for the problematic interface between science and society, Beckwith notes that most scientific papers are written with an (admirably) elegant, straightforward logic, without describing all of the false starts involved or how the investigators arrived at their insight. Of course, his efforts to submit a paper describing these additional particulars met with a predictable response in the scientific community. His point, however, is a compelling one: the pretense of objectivity may itself hide bias that the world at large cannot discern. In the worst case, because of this lack of understanding, scientific reports could be viewed by the public as being prescriptive rather than informational. The result is not bad science but, rather, bad policy. Beckwith feels that scientists and the public both bear responsibility for this sad state of affairs. Anyone concerned with these issues would find worthwhile the personal insights in this eminently readable book. I must admit to being dubious at the outset, but I was won over by Beckwith's style and his argument. The issues he raises persist. We are in a period of contrarian reaction to science, in which rational analysis is often forsaken in favor of emotional responses. The optimal solution would accomplish on a mass scale Beckwith's personal goal: to increase scientists' sophistication about society and the public's sophistication about science. Perhaps the key to our future progress is the training of well-prepared and stimulating science teachers. Beckwith has already lent his support. H. William Schnaper, M.D.
Copyright © 2003 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 254 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press; 1 edition (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674009282
• ISBN-13: 978-0674009288
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,857,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Reading, September 6, 2002

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Joy Bennett (Pittsford, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Making Genes, Making Waves: A Social Activist in Science (Hardcover)

An intelligent, clearly written book by Harvard microbiologist and social activist Jon Beckwith. He describes his eventful life in science and activism, and makes some interesting points about the nature of science: "the actual practice of science is a human endeavor with the flaws and virtues of any human activity." He emphasizes the importance of ethics in science, and says that scientists and non-scientists must work together for science to help mankind, and not be used unwisely. I knew Beckwith years ago when I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and wish him well with the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for any budding "social" scientist, September 13, 2011

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egbutter (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Making Genes, Making Waves: A Social Activist in Science (Hardcover)

Too much energy? Not convinced you can survive pent up and disconnected from the world in an academic ivory tower?

Neither could I. Jon Beckwith's personal memoir reconnected me with my larger purpose in life, and reminded me that real science stays connected to the real world. I strongly recommend this book to anyone considering a life in science or engineering (and especially those who are now considering leaving).

The book has a certain lack of polish, but this rawness helps create the personal flavor of the book: this is not a mass-market paperback, or some publisher telling the world what the world wants to hear. This book is a real account by a real person trying to make a real difference in peoples' lives.

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting book, January 12, 2009

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R. Doueiri (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Making Genes, Making Waves: A Social Activist in Science (Hardcover)

as a phd student in biology, i attended a seminar by dr. beckwith and was interested in what he said regarding the ethical implications of our work as scientists. he is a great scientist with years of experience under his lab coat both in social activism and in research. it made me look into what i am doing not just as pure research for the sake of knowledge but also how it will impact negatively and/or positively the society and humanity. the only problem is that he talks alot about eugenics which has been dismissed by sceintists long time ago, and rarely talks about the current negative implications of some scientific discoveries on our daily life. nevertheless it is a must read for all young aspiring and old scientists