Genetic Turning Points: The Ethics of Human Genetic Intervention.

• Position: Review

Peterson, James C. Genetic Turning Points: The Ethics of Human Genetic Intervention. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001; 800-253-7521;

The rapidly expanding technology of human genetic intervention is offering new choices and demanding decisions that are formative for anyone who has genes or cares about someone who does. But the sheer number and importance of the involved questions are daunting. Would changing some of our children's genes make them mere objects of manufacture? Should a cardiologist reveal to a patient that the genetic test she ordered for a heart condition also indicates that the patient is likely to develop Alzheimer disease? Should companies be able to patent human genes? Is it ever appropriate to clone human beings? Should genetic intervention be limited to cure of disease?

This book sorts through clinical decisions and myriad implications to...