|
 This
book offers a unique perspective on genetics and genetic
engineering that cannot be found elsewhere. David Suzuki,
co-author of Genethics, said that "all
budding geneticists, indeed, all biologists, ought to read
this important work." Wes Jackson, President
of the Land Institute, wrote, "I
am tempted to shout that this may be the most essential
new book of our time." And Lynn Margulis, co-developer
of the Gaia hypothesis, remarked that the author cuts "through
hype and nonsense to the crux of the matter - that our fundamental
humanity develops in context."
"With a wealth of interesting
examples he shows how genes (DNA) alone cannot "determine"
traits, much less organisms, because their effects are always
qualified by the contexts within which the organisms live.
He thus offers an antidote to the current mechanistic thinking
about genes as causes of health, disease, and behaviors.
But the special contribution of this book is that it details,
simply, and with fascinating examples, how scientists' ways
of conceptualizing organisms and manipulating them and their
parts are at the heart of the formulations they offer about
how organisms and their molecules function. The reader can
thus observe how scientific observations and their interpretations
fuse in the creation of systems of scientific explanation."
Ruth Hubbard, Professor Emerita of Biology,
Harvard University, and author of Exploding the
Gene Myth
"This essay by Craig Holdrege
is for all of us who want to understand the biological revolution
of the late 20th Century. Passionately interested in the
intellectual sense and utterly disinterested financially,
this knowledgeable explanation is the single most accessible
source not only of information but of knowledge and wisdom.
Cutting through hype and nonsense to the crux of the matter-that
our fundamental humanity develops in context-Holdrege uses
responsible and friendly language to expose the co-option
of scientific curiosity, industrial greed, and objectification
of flowers, embryos, affection."
Lynn Margulis, Distinguished University Professor,
University of Massachussetts, Amherst; co-founder of the
Gaia hypothesis.
"Deny the importance of context…and
we pay. Is it ignorance or denial? Reading Craig Holdrege,
I am tempted to shout that this may be the most essential
new book of our time."
Wes Jackson, The Land Institute, author of
New Roots for Agriculture
"In our search for universal
truths disconnected in time and space, we lose all sense
of the context that made the problem interesting in the
first place. All budding geneticists, indeed, all biologists,
ought to read this important book."
David Suzuki, Broadcaster, environmentalist,
and co-author of Genethics
"In this readable book, Holdrege
provides a lovely exposition of living organisms not as
objects but as process and of heredity as a blending of
"potential and plasticity" with "limitation"
and "specificity." With a wealth of interesting
examples he shows how genes (DNA) alone cannot "determine"
traits, much less organisms, because their effects are always
qualified by the contexts within which the organisms live.
He thus offers an antidote to the current mechanistic thinking
about genes as causes of health, disease, and behaviors.
But the special contribution of this book is that it details,
simply, and with fascinating examples, how scientists' ways
of conceptualizing organisms and manipulating them and their
parts are at the heart of the formulations they offer about
how organisms and their molecules function. The reader can
thus observe how scientific observations and their interpretations
fuse in the creation of systems of scientific explanation."
Ruth Hubbard, Professor Emerita of Biology,
Harvard University, and author of Exploding the Gene
Myth
"Holdrege writes beautifully
in a simple style avoiding technical terms as much as possible.
Thus the book can be read and understood not only by university
students but even by advanced college or high school students.
Yet, in spite of this simplicity, the book offers profound
insights for research scientists in biology, especially
geneticists. I therefore strongly recommend this book to
biologists and lay persons. Since the book addresses a profound
lack in our present-day culture, namely the forgotten context
and wholeness, it is a book written for our age. If taken
to heart, it might be a cure from the ills and dangers of
destructive manipulative genetics."
Rolf Sattler, Department of Biology, McGill
University, Montreal (Review in Canadian Botany Association
Bulletin, October 1996)
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