fronted with some of these problems by such de- Selected Readings in velopments as genetic counseling, sperm banks, artificial insemination by donors, amniocentesis, and the abortion of genetically defective fetuses. Tomor- row the problems could be much more complicated: Genetic Engineering they could arise from the cloning of human eggs, with the consequent asexual reproduction of a large number of genetically identical individuals; genetic surgery or gene repair (perhaps by means of vi- ruses); legislative control of who can and cannot re- produce, along with enforced regulations about THOMAS R. MERTENS sterilization; and, ultimately, human control over the genetic future of the human species. SANDRA K. ROBINSON There are those who would argue that these prob- lems lie in the future; that they may, in fact, never materialize, and that we can always deal with them if and when they do arise. Others suggest that these potential problems are of the same magnitude as Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/35/5/282/9177/4444367.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 those that confronted society with the development of the atomic bomb. Society was generally unpre- pared for the social, moral, and ethical problems posed by the Atomic Age. THE ISSUE OF American Biology Teacher Should it also enter the containing Genetic Age Werner G. Heim's provocative article "Moral and unprepared? Would it not be better to indulge in some thoughtful Legal Decisions in Reproductive and Genetic Engi- introspection while we have time to do so, neering" (34[6]:315) arrived just as we were draw- rather than be forced to make decisions having ing up a list of readings on human genetics and profound biologic, social, and ethical implications genetic engineering for use in the senior author's under the pressure of some "genetic bomb"? introductory genetics course. We were trying to It is our conviction that identify articles dealing with the social, moral, and some forethought should be given to these questions. legal implications of genetic and reproductive engi- Certainly college biology majors, and neering that beginning genetics students would find especially future secondary-school bi- ology teachers, need to be understandable and meaningful. Certainly Heim's informed about the de- velopments in human article should be included in such a reading list. genetics and the implications of these developments for genetic We hope the bibliography we have produced may engineering. prove useful to other biology and genetics teachers. It is presented at the conclusion of the article. The Concerns about Genetic Engineering text consists in an explanation of our rationale in making the selections, together with brief appraisive To introduce students to the problem we have comments on the articles and books. chosen an article by Caryl Rivers (1972), a lay writer, who discusses some of the discoveries that suggest sophisticated genetic engineering will soon Rationale of Selection be possible. Rivers notes that genetic counseling-a relatively unsophisticated field-raises ethical ques- Progress in studying human genetics has been tions and that cloning, sperm-banking, and genetic hampered by the very nature of man himself: his surgery-more complex fields-pose enormously dif- long generation-time, the relatively small size of ficult and frustrating moral questions. If there are human families, and, of course, the prohibitions against carrying out experimental matings. Nonethe- less, progress has been made and human genetics has ThomasR. Mertensis professorof biology, developed as a fascinating science in its own right. Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. 47306. Indeed, recent years have seen such rapid progress, His most recent book (with Gary Parker) is Basis: and the future offers such bright prospects, that Life's Biomolecules,just publishedby Wiley. This summerMertens will be direct- _ many scientists and laymen foresee the possibility ing his fifth NSF institute for high-school of using genetic knowledge to manipulate human re- biology teachers.For biographicdetails see 8 production and heredity in order to correct human ABT 34(4):216 (with portrait) and 34(9): genetic defects and perhaps ultimately to alter the 523. SandraK. Robinson (picturedhere) is an M.S. in gene pool of the human species-that is, to direct candidate, biology, at Ball State, where she re- ceived her B.S. in 19729She is the coauthor, with Mertens, of human evolution. articles in Carolina Tips and Journal of Heredity on using Growing out of the discoveries about human the monocot Rhoeo spathacea in teaching meiosis, and she genetics and the technology these discoveries will and Mertens are coeditors of Human Genetics and Social Problems, a book of readings make possible are major problems having social, just published by MSS Infor- mation Corp. Mrs. Robinson, who is continuing her research legal, and ethical implications. We are already con- on Rhoeo, will teach high-school biology this fall. 282 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, MAY 1973 problems created by the attempt to improve the portant early cytogenetic advances, a discussion of genetic constitution of one individual-to correct a recent discoveries relating specifically to human genetic error he possesses or to prevent his trans- chromosomes, and an account of some current in- mitting it to the next generation-how much more vestigations in human cytogenetics. complicated are the questions raised by the possi- John H. Heller (1969) deals with some of the same bility of controlled human reproduction with the goal material German discusses, but he also includes a of altering the evolutionary future of the species! more detailed discussion of the 47, XYY chromosome We expect Rivers' article to stimulate student in- complement and the social, legal, and ethical ques- terest by suggesting some of the techniques that tions raised by the purported aggressive and criminal might be used to accomplish genetic engineering and tendencies of XYY individuals. The papers by Ger- some of the problems that would result if these tech- man and Heller both include extensive reference niques were applied. The fact that Rivers' article sections, which will be useful to the interested stu- was published in Saturday Review suggests that the dent. problems of genetic engineering are of concern to a The final selection in this section of the bibliogra- wide sector of the educated public in the United phy gives the student some idea of the directions in States. Many people besides scientists and physicians which human genetics is likely to be moving in the are aware of the potential for good and evil that re- next decade. Paul T. Libassi (1972a) describes the cent advances in genetics portend. establishment, with federal government support, of Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/35/5/282/9177/4444367.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 The rest of our selections are intended to provide seven major research centers, each designed to study the student with deeper insights into the problems specific kinds of human genetic defects. The need for alluded to in Rivers' article. After looking at some these centers is explained, and a brief account is of the more recent advances in human genetics and given of some of the expectations that are held for cytology in the second part of our list (see below, them and for progress in human genetics. "Background"), the student is introduced to some of the techniques that might be used to accomplish Procedures: Techniques of Genetic Engineering genetic engineering (see below, "Procedures"). These selections include articles by Nobelists Muller, Bernard D. Davis (1970) provides a synoptic view Lederberg, and Watson. The fourth part of the list of many of the procedures that might be used to examines diverse viewpoints relative to the social, achieve genetic and reproductive manipulation in ethical, and legal implications of genetic engineering man. Davis suggests that curing single-gene diseases, and controlled reproduction (see below, "Issues"). such as PKU, by replacement of defective genetic We also include in the reading list a selected group material with "correct" DNA-the technique of of references that the interested student might use transformation or transduction-is a much more to pursue the topic of genetic engineering and its likely prospect than the genetic manipulation of be- social and ethical implications in greater depth (see havioral traits that are controlled by many genes. below, "Further Reading"). Davis also briefly discusses cloning, predetermination of sex, and selective reproduction (breeding) as means Background: Progress in Human Genetics of genetic engineering. The dangers of the various genetic manipulation procedures and their The technology necessary for genetic engineering is possible misuse for political and military purposes dependent on basic research discoveries in genetics are briefly discussed. The article concludes with and cytology-including human genetics and cytol- discussion of the damage that would be done to so- ogy. Especially noteworthy advances have been made ciety if basic genetic research were curtailed as a in the study of human chromosomes-beginning consequence of public apprehension over the possible with the discovery by J. H. Tjio and A. Levan, in misuse of genetic discoveries. 1956, that the human diploid chromosome number is Nobel Laureate Joshua Lederberg (1970) contrasts 46 rather than 48, as had been generally accepted the high expectations held for genetic engineering for almost 35 years. The students are asked to read with the reality of our present inability to prevent three review papers that document recent advances and treat diseases having a genetic basis. We do not in human genetics and cytology. know how to prevent new mutations from occurring; Discoveries in biochemical genetics, molecular indeed, we usually do not even know that a recessive genetics, and immunogenetics are mentioned by mutation has arisen until it is segregated in the H. Eldon Sutton (1967) in the first of these papers.