GMO Sapiens: The Life-Changing Science of Designer Babies (282 Pages)

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) including plants and foods are a hot topic of debate today, but soon related technology could go much further and literally change what it means to be human. Scientists are on the verge of being able to create people who are GMOs. Should they do it? Could we become a healthier and 'better' species or might eugenics go viral leading to a real, new world of genetic dystopia? GMO Sapiens tackles such questions by taking a fresh look at the cutting-edge biotech discoveries that have made genetically modified people possible. Bioengineering, genomics, synthetic biology, and stem cells are changing sci-fi into reality before our eyes. This book will capture your imagination with its clear, approachable writing style. It will draw you into the fascinating discussion of the life-changing science of human genetic modification. Readership: Undergraduate biology majors, graduate biology majors, non-experts interested in GMOs, biologists and teenagers interested in cloning and human genetic modification. ***2015 Indiefab Science Book of the Year Bronze Winner*** Contents 14 Preface 8 Chapter 1 An Introduction to Playing God 18 Genetically modified (GM) human embryos 18 You’re only human ... but your kids could be more 18 On the menu: IVF meets GMO 27 Cutting edge technology: CRISPR-Cas9 28 Your better baby 32 GMO genesis 37 The stem cell and cloning connections 40 References 42 Chapter 2 The Birth and Explosive Growth of GMOs 44 GM plants sprout 44 Where did GMOs come from? 46 The race for GM crops 52 Democratizing creation 57 GM pets and novelties 58 GM mosquitoes as good “weapons” to fight disease 59 Defining human genetic modification 61 Gene therapy 63 References 65 Chapter 3 Human Cloning 66 A student and the first clone 66 Cloning culture 67 The birth of cloning 68 The two kinds of cloning 75 Phony cloning 77 Cloning myths 80 The politics of cloning 84 De-extinction: resurrecting the extinct 85 Cloning meets GMOs? 87 Cloners and friends 87 Who will be the first human clones? 90 References 92 Chapter 4 Messing with Mother Nature: The First GMO Sapiens 94 The birth of IVF and a devilish dilemma 94 The “cowboys of medicine” make first GM babies 103 Would it be legal to make a GMO sapiens? 112 Monkeying around with primate eggs and genomes 116 The future of three-person IVF 118 References 119 Chapter 5 Build-a-Baby Better via Genetics 122 The genesis of commercial human genetic testing 122 Genetics dating and mating service: I prefera child with 125 Changing the genetic equation via designer babies? 129 Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) 135 CRISPR versus PGD 137 Sex selection 140 Savior siblings 141 Human GMO economics 142 OvaScience 144 Mitogenome therapeutics 146 Genetics and human choices 148 Genetic tourism 148 Are designer babies the next step on the GM timeline? 150 References 152 Chapter 6 DIY Guide to Creating GMO Sapiens 154 Why make a GMO sapiens and what is your target? 155 The CRISPR connection 156 CRISPR as a laboratory tool 158 In the laboratory, begin at the beginning 163 A la carte genetic modifications 164 A potential role for stem cells 166 Build a better mouse and they will come:t he experience of making a GMO 167 What if you make a mistake? 169 What could go wrong 170 Could we correct a mistake? 173 Practical challenges to making a GMO sapiens 175 References 177 Chapter 7 Eugenics and Transhumanism 180 Eugenics takes root in California 180 “Better babies” through eugenics 183 IVF and eugenics 189 What is a “better” or “perfect” person? 191 Should we try to make “better babies” via genetic modification? 193 Transhumanism: Getting from point ACGT to H+ 198 George Church, genetics pioneer and transhumanist 202 Forced genetic change: gene drive, and weapons 207 References 215 Chapter 8 Cultural Views on Human Genetic Modification 218 Public perceptions of human modification 218 American views on creating GM humans 219 Global views on human genetic modification 221 Frankenstein revisited 224 The Brothers Huxley 225 GATTACA 227 DNA Dreams and reality 229 Orphan Black 233 An artist’s view of human cloning 235 Genetic discrimination or celebrity 235 Gender issues in human modification 238 Letting your GMO imagination run wild 240 How will culture view real GMO sapiens? 242 References 243 Chapter 9 GMO Sapiens Today and Tomorrow 244 Creation of the first gene-edited human embryos 244 “Don’t edit the human germline” 248 “Prudent path forward” 249 ABCD plan 256 Stanford Law meeting on human genetic modification 259 George Church on human genetic modification 261 Oxford ethicists: don’t worry, just do it! 263 The human genome as ever-changing mashup? 266 The future of human genetic modification 268 References 273 Glossary 274 Index 280 "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) including plants and the foods made from them, are a hot topic of debate today, but soon related technology could go much further and literally change what it means to be human. Scientists are on the verge of being able to create people who are GMOs. Should they do it? Could we become a healthier and 'better' species or might eugenics go viral leading to a real, new world of genetic dystopia? GMO Sapiens tackles such questions by taking a fresh look at the cutting-edge biotech discoveries that have made genetically modified people possible. Bioengineering, genomics, synthetic biology, and stem cells are changing sci-fi into reality before our eyes. This book will capture your imagination with its clear, approachable writing style. It will draw you into the fascinating discussion of the life-changing science of human genetic modification."- This Book Takes A Fresh Look At The Cutting-edge Biotech Discoveries That Have Made Genetically Modified People Possible. An Introduction To Playing God -- The Birth And Explosive Growth Of Gmos -- Human Cloning -- Messing With Mother Nature : The First Gmo Sapiens -- Build-a-baby Better Via Genetics -- Diy Guide To Creating Gmo Sapiens -- Eugenics And Transhumanism -- Cultural Views On Human Genetic Modification -- Gmo Sapiens Today And Tomorrow. Paul Knoepfler, University Of California, Davis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. GMO Sapiens: the Life-Changing Science of Designer Babies is an exciting new book which takes a look at the cutting edge biotechnology trends that are making human genetic modification and cloning a more practical potential reality in the coming years.