Agro-technology [electronic resource] : a philosophical introduction / R. Paul Thompson.
2011
S494.5.B563 T46 2011eb
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Details
Title
Agro-technology [electronic resource] : a philosophical introduction / R. Paul Thompson.
Author
Thompson, R. Paul, 1947-
ISBN
9781139114745 (electronic bk.)
9780521117975
9780521117975
Publication Details
Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource (xxiii, 233 p.) : ill.
Call Number
S494.5.B563 T46 2011eb
Dewey Decimal Classification
630
Summary
"Humans have been modifying plants and animals for millennia. The dawn of molecular genetics, however, has kindled intense public scrutiny and controversy. Crops, and the food products which include them, have dominated molecular modification in agriculture. Organisations have made unsubstantiated claims and scare mongering is common. In this textbook Paul Thompson presents a clear account of the significant issues--identifying harms and benefits, analysing and managing risk--which lie beneath the cacophony of public controversy. His comprehensive analysis looks especially at genetically modified organisms, and includes an explanation of the scientific background, an analysis of ideological objections, a discussion of legal and ethical concerns, a suggested alternative--organic agriculture--and an examination of the controversy's impact on sub-Saharan African countries. His book will be of interest to students and other readers in philosophy, biology, biotechnology, and public policy"-- Provided by publisher.
"Although the current debate about agricultural biotechnology is often narrowly focused on molecular biotechnology (molecular genetic modification), the technological application of biology in agriculture predates the advent of molecular biology. For more than 10,000 years humans have been manipulating the traits of animals and plants (Mazoyer and Roundart, 2006; Thompson, 2009) by manipulating their genes and, thereby their genomes (the specific combination of genes in an organism's cells); the dog was likely the earliest animal to be domesticated (about 16,000 years ago). Early domestication of agricultural animals and plants was based entirely on crude experimentation (trial and error). Biological knowledge was elementary; humans learned early that offspring resemble parents, that selecting animals and plants with desirable traits and breeding them created a population of animals with those traits, and that occasionally a new trait seemed to appear"-- Provided by publisher.
"Although the current debate about agricultural biotechnology is often narrowly focused on molecular biotechnology (molecular genetic modification), the technological application of biology in agriculture predates the advent of molecular biology. For more than 10,000 years humans have been manipulating the traits of animals and plants (Mazoyer and Roundart, 2006; Thompson, 2009) by manipulating their genes and, thereby their genomes (the specific combination of genes in an organism's cells); the dog was likely the earliest animal to be domesticated (about 16,000 years ago). Early domestication of agricultural animals and plants was based entirely on crude experimentation (trial and error). Biological knowledge was elementary; humans learned early that offspring resemble parents, that selecting animals and plants with desirable traits and breeding them created a population of animals with those traits, and that occasionally a new trait seemed to appear"-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description
Description based on print version record.
Series
Cambridge introductions to philosophy and biology
Available in Other Form
Agro-technology.
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Table of Contents
Machine generated contents note: Introduction
1. Scientific background
2. Application of genetics in agriculture
3. Philosophical and conceptual background
4. The controversy : ideological and theological objections
5. The controversy : purported benefits
6. The controversy : purported harms
7. The organic alternative
8. Impact on low and middle income countries : poverty, farming, and colonial legacies
Concluding remarks.
1. Scientific background
2. Application of genetics in agriculture
3. Philosophical and conceptual background
4. The controversy : ideological and theological objections
5. The controversy : purported benefits
6. The controversy : purported harms
7. The organic alternative
8. Impact on low and middle income countries : poverty, farming, and colonial legacies
Concluding remarks.