Biotechnology Unglued

With its tight focus on social implications generally and social cohesion particularly, Biotechnology Unglued has a unique niche in the very 'hot' area of biotechnology. This focus is its strength and comparative advantage, and will set it apart from the rest of the literature, both existing and forthcoming. -- William Leiss, School of Policy Studies, Queen's University

The two faces of biotechnology are revealed throughout to show the promises and perils associated with a range of innovations.

Proponents of biotechnology claim that its advances will create abetter world -- one free of malnutrition and hunger, where bettermedical treatments will be available through gene discovery, and wheremore efficient policing will be possible with improved forensictechniques. While some biotechnological innovations do providesignificant benefits to individual users, their impact on society isoften poorly understood. Will these new technologies unravel, orperhaps realign, the social fabric as we know it?

Biotechnology Unglued explores this question in awell-considered investigation of the effects of technology on socialcohesion. The essays present case studies of how various applicationsin agricultural, medical, and forensic biotechnology have affected thecohesiveness of agricultural communities, citizens, consumer groups,scientific communities, and society in general. The contributors, froma range of backgrounds, demonstrate how particular kinds oftechnology-society and technology-corporate configurations affectsocial cohesion by creating cultures of surveillance, competition,social exclusion, and control.

The two faces of biotechnology are revealed throughout to show thepromises and perils associated with a range of innovations. Thebook’s reasoned commentary and engaging style will appeal toanyone interested in the social dimensions of biotechnology.