Not only covering the newsworthy topics of contemporary biology -such as gene therapy and the Human Genome Project -this book also provides a well-rounded introduction to the fundamental concepts and practical applications of genetics. Written specifically for nonbiologists, Genes and DNA covers all the basic concepts from classical and molecular genetics to quantitative and population genetics, including cloning and genetic diseases, and discusses the many applications of genetics to the world around us, from genetically modified foods to genetic testing.

With minimal technical terminology and jargon, the book's strength is in its attention to the comprehension of concepts. The authors provide balanced coverage of controversial topics and encourage the reader to think independently, always stressing the scientific background and current facts. Throughout the text, innovative "Try This At Home" boxes and supplemental sidebars engage readers.

Recent developments in biotechnology and genetic research are raising complex ethical questions concerning the legitimate scope and limits of genetic intervention. As we begin to contemplate the possibility of intervening in the human genome to prevent diseases, we cannot help but feel that the human species might soon be able to take its biological evolution in its own hands. 'Playing God' is the metaphor commonly used for this self-transformation of the species, which, it seems, might soon be within our grasp.
In this important new book, Jurgen Habermas - the most influential philosopher and social thinker in Germany today - takes up the question of genetic engineering and its ethical implications and subjects it to careful philosophical scrutiny. His analysis is guided by the view that genetic manipulation is bound up with the identity and self-understanding of the species. We cannot rule out the possibility that knowledge of one's own hereditary factors may prove to be restrictive for the choice of an individual's way of life and may undermine the symmetrical relations between free and equal human beings.

What causes psychiatric disorders to appear? Are they primarily the result of people s environments, or of their genes? Increasingly, we are told that research has confirmed the importance of genetic influences on psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
This timely, challenging book provides a much-needed critical appraisal of the evidence cited in support of genetic theories of psychiatric disorders, which hold that these disorders are caused by an inherited genetic predisposition in combination with environmental agents or events.