FROM CELL TO CLONE: The Story of Genetic Engineering

by Margery & Howard Facklam Facklam ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1979

The Facklams take a loosely structured, ""people"" approach to the science of genetics. Their explanations of cell division, Mendel's work, and most other topics are far sketchier than those offered by the Bornsteins (p. 1268, J-300), though for those who enjoy science as drama their retelling of the Crick-Watson story conveys more of the excitement of the search. On genetic engineering, Langone's Human Engineering (1978) is more informative and reliable. The Facklams don't make consistent distinctions between cloning in particular and genetic engineering in general (earlier, birth defects and genetic disease are equated), and much of this later section reads like a puff for--as they put it--""better things for a better life from recombinant research."" Much of their short book is taken up with peripheral material stretching from the 1770s Lunatic Society of Birmingham up to the procedure for getting a Ph.D. in science--this latter digression being especially superfluous as the Facklams take what, at a college level, would be called an English majors' approach. As such, it's readable.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1979

Categories: NONFICTION