Review of The New Eugenics

[Joe Jacobs]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The New Eugenics" by Conrad B. Quintyn.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The New Eugenics by Conrad B. Quintyn, Ph.D. is a book about the past, present, and future of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in plants, animals, humans, viruses, and all living organisms. It describes the history, progress, motive, and details research on the modification of genes. Method on how to modify genes effectively until the best way found in CRISPR/Cas9 method. Conrad also shares the risk and gives a warning if it falls to a bad scientist who used the technology for a negative purpose. However, the potential benefits keep GMO progress going.

I see a good motive for scientists in making all organisms free from the dangerous genes that can help humans to live a better life. I see scientists making good progress and am interested to see the benefit of one sample of using the xenotransplantation method to genetically modify the human liver and grow it in a pig. Reading the progress from other online article news that less than a year after this book was published, in Oct 2021, The New York Times newspaper online https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/heal ... human.html that a surgeon has successfully tested this human-pig liver on a sick patient. Though still in the early stage, this scientific breakthrough will be able to help about 100,000 people in the US that need a liver transplant and many more worldwide.

Despite the good news, seeing the fear of genetic modification can cause worsened sickness than previously before genetic modification is done. I see the author shares his concern that scientists in secret will do gene experimentation out of curiosity and strong motivation for good and bad purposes. Scientists answer the question of the risks they are willing to cross. Also in answering the accusation of playing God. More strict lab environment to adhere to the lab gene safety standards to avoid unintended consequences. Also, in the worst scenario, the extinction of life or the extinction of humans on earth. And another risk such as zoonotic diseases. There is still a lot of homework to tackle to reduce those risks.

I think this gene modification is inevitable and surely will keep progressing. As the author puts it throughout the book, when the benefits weigh more than the risks, eventually, the public will accept them. I read about one of my favorite actors, Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and became an advocate and raised over $1B to find a cure for this terrible illness. I can feel the desperation and I hope that one-day gene therapy can help cure Parkinson's, cancer, and many debilitating diseases. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for giving awareness of this new Eugenics.

I recommend this book for those scientists or students that will pursue the path of a scientist to be aware and cautious about the development of this GMO. I also think it is good for the government or public servants to read this and monitor closely the course of action and path of GMOs. And let the broad public be aware of its course and risk. I like how Conrad put it: “This is one general reason why the new eugenics persists and why continued vigilance by scientists globally is warranted to prevent additional unintended consequences.” This topic of GMOs brings excitement to seeing a better future and surely this book has given the right arguments for the public to take heed of.

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The New Eugenics
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[Mildred Echesa]

I am not into sciences so I will skip on reading this book. However, this is a well written review.

[Joe Jacobs]

thanks @Sarah1738 to stop by