Abraham Lincoln's DNA and other adventures in genetics / Philip R. Reilly.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Reilly, Philip, 1947-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Human genetics--Popular works.

Human genetics.

Medical genetics--Popular works.

Medical genetics.

Genetic engineering--Popular works.

Genetic engineering.

Genetics, Medical.

Genetic Engineering.

Medical Subjects:

Genetics, Medical.

Genetic Engineering.

Genre:

Popular works.

Physical Description:

xx, 339 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cold Spring Harbor, NY : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, [2000]

Summary:

Twenty-four true, wide-ranging tales of crime, history, human behavior, illness, and ethics, told from the personal perspective of an eminent physician-lawyer. Philip Reilly uses these stories to illustrate the principles of human genetics and to discuss the broader issues.

Contents:

Part 1 History: Using DNA to Understand the Past

1. Abraham Lincoln: Did He Have Marfan Syndrome? 3

2. Kings and Queens: Genetic Diseases in Royal Families 15

3. Toulouse-Lautrec: An Artist despite His Genes 27

4. Old Bones: DNA and Skeletons 39

Part 2 Justice: The DNA Revolution in the Courts

5. DNA Detectives: The New DNA Evidence 53

6. Cold Hits: The Rise of DNA Felon Databanks 65

7. Genes and Violence: Do Mutations Cause Crime? 79

8. Wrongful Birth: What Should the Doctor Know? 93

Part 3 Behavior: Do Genes Make Us the Way We Are?

9. Mentall Illness: How Much Is Genetic? 105

10. Personality: Were We Born This Way? 117

11. Talent: Nature or Nurture? 131

12. Gay Genes: What's the Evidence? 145

Part 4 Plants and Animals: Genetic Engineering and Nature

13. Genetically Modified Organisms: The Next Green Revolution? 157

14. Transgenic Animals: New Foods and New Factories 173

15. Endangered Species: New Genes Beat Extinction 187

16. Xenotransplantation: Animal Organs to Save Humans 199

Part 5 Diseases: The Genetic Revolution in Medicine

17. Cystic Fibrosis: Should Everyone Be Tested? 213

18. Breast Cancer: The Burden of Knowing 223

19. Alzheimer Disease: Are You at High Risk? 235

20. Gene Therapy: The Dream and the Reality 247

Part 6 Dilemmas: Genetic Technologies and Individual Choice

21. Genetic Testing and Privacy: Who Should Be Able to Know Your Genes? 263

22. Frozen Embryos: People or Property? 277

23. Cloning: Why Is Everyone Opposed? 289

24. Eugenics: Can We Improve the Gene Pool? 303.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 317-330) and index.

ISBN:

0879695803

OCLC:

43811480