Improving Nature ? : the Science and Ethics of Genetic Engineering

Improving Nature? is guided by a simple set of premises t h a t the science o f genetic engineering is essential to discussing its ethics and, moreover, that a coherent set o f ethical principles cannot be developed solely from scientific comprehension. This stance is sensible, if not selfevident, in the examination o f any new technology. 3 The authors, Michael Reiss, a biologist at Cambridge University, and Roger Straughan, a moral philosopher at the University of Reading, would seem an apropos pair to tackle genetic engineering 4 from this integrdted science and ethics approach. But while each contributes hear t i lyto introducing the science o f genetic engineering and philosophical ethics as separate topics, their resulting application o f this hybrid method is generally too cursor~ to be useful.