Genetic Engineering: Dream or Nightmare?

Genetic Engineering: Dream or Nightmare?

By Mae-Wan Ho

Reviewed by Trout Rogers

Do you love to read? Me too.

This month I read a great book: Genetic Engineering: Dream or Nightmare? by Dr. Mae-Wan Ho. Scientist and Fellow of the U.S. National Genetics Foundation since 1994, Dr. Ho has been scientific adviser to The Third World Network on genetic engineering biotechnology and biosafety, as well as a public lecturer and prolific scientific author.

In her book, she does an excellent job of breaking down the facts behind genetic engineering, the bond between science and corporate interests, and the general concept of science — and its purpose — in our social construct.

Basically, genetic engineering works by the theory of `genetic determinism.'

This is the belief that the life of each human, and indeed of all living things, is already preprogrammed into their genetic material, leaving no (or very little) room for variance in characteristics, behaviors, etc., that are born from the determining genetic code.

Dr. Ho points out that genetic determinism is not only inherently flawed as a scientific theory, but that in fact there are few scientists who will admit to believing what is now thought to be an outdated theory from reductionist science.

The funny thing is that genetic engineering still relies on the concept of genetic determinism. Basically, if you want trait X, you just put it in a virus, infect a cell with it, sit back and watch as the cell replicates trait X, and you're done.

Trait X remains true, no other changes occur, and life is good. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and actually genetic engineering is possible precisely because the paradigm of genetic determinism is invalid.

The cell is a living and changing organism in which information does not flow in just one direction, showing that genes and genomes need to be fluid in order to maintain stability.

Dr. Ho points out that:

• The genetic engineering mindset states that genes determine characteristics in linear causal chains and that one gene gives one function. Scientific findings show us that genes function in a complex network where causation is multidimensional, nonlinear, and circular.

• The genetic engineering mindset states that genes and genomes are not subject to environmental influence. Scientific findings show that genes and genomes are subject to feedback regulation, with multidimensional communication.

• The genetic engineering mindset states that genes and genomes are stable and unchanging. Scientific findings show that genes and genomes are dynamic and fluid, can change directly in response to the environment, and undergo `adaptive' mutations.

We now know that many thousands of changes take place in a cell with the introduction of new material.

Not just in the Trait X area. There are so many variables that it is not even close to possible to be able to predict any kind of changes that a call may undergo during any phase of its life, much less during an event like viral infection (the most common promoter for genetic engineering).

Scientists are seeing many different responses including recombination and antibiotic resistance, two of the most dangerous possibilities (that
we are able to predict) facing the technology.

Dr. Ho explains, "Genomes are continuously changing due to many processes, operating constantly on developmental and evolutionary time scales.

These processes destabilize genes and genomes, move genes around, mutate, rearrange, recombine, replicate sequences, delete or insert sequences, can even exchange and convert sequences.

Sequences in the genome can be amplified (or contracted) thousands and hundreds of thousands of times as part of normal development or as the result of environmental challenges." In fact, a gene that does performs one function in one person, may perform a completely different function in another. Go figure.

Dr. Ho continues to explain many aspects of biotechnology, often in dictionary inspired prose, though useful to those with rudimentary (or better) biology skills.

Her understanding of the topic is extensive, and she really makes an effort to include information from the earliest days of the technology (before Darwin), through to the current thinking.

From the link between big business, government, and genetic engineering, to the implausible science behind it, Dr. Mae-Wan Ho fills her book with valuable information and evidence that we are headed down a path where irreversible harm is becoming more and more likely.

After reading several books and articles and papers about genetic engineering, I found this book to be vital in helping me to understand some of the scientific principals behind this new technology, and its potential hazards.

It includes much information, and subsequent explanations that are often lacking in the media. With solid facts and insight, Genetic Engineering: Dream or Nightmare? is a valuable resource for the science minded and layman alike.