The Second Creation: The Age of Biological Control by the Scientists Who Cloned Dolly (Hardcover)

Written by the noted science author Colin Tudge, the book is based on interviews with Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell, the scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep. Its aim is to explain the story of how and why they came to cloning sheep and the implications for the future from curing diseases to human cloning. But that's not easy to convey simply, according to Ian Wilmut: "The full story is, however, inescapably complicated. The science and technology of cloning, at least by our method, takes us into some of the most esoteric reaches of biology ... "

Their subject is complex and requires careful reading but the reward is worth the effort. Inevitably, the issue of human cloning is looked at in some detail and all three of the authors find the idea repugnant and do not believe society will accept it: "The pressures for human cloning are powerful; but, although it seems likely that somebody, at some time, will attempt it, we need not assume that it will ever become a common or significant feature of human life."

The book contains a comprehensive glossary to explain the scientific terms and abbreviations. Colin Tudge is the author of several books including The Engineer in the Garden, short listed for the British Science Book Award. --Carina Trimingham

Review
'THE SECOND CREATION offers a rare insight into the minds of researchers who "just want to do good science" while being sensitive to the dilemmas raised by their discoveries' Georgina Ferry, Daily Mail 'An admirable chronicle of the birth of the world's first fatherless mammal, describing the science involved in intricate, but never baffling detail. THE SECOND CREATION is, if nothing else, commendably readable' Robin McKie, Observer 'Bring[s] a proper sense of perspective to a still highly fevered and often very ill-informed debate' Robin McKie, Observer 'This book is very readable. Non-scientists will not only learn a lot of biology, but they will also get a good idea of what makes scientists tick ... The book is excellent value for money.' Anne McLaren, Nature 'Readable, admirably clear and informative' Maggie Gee, Daily Telegraph 'the easy-to-use glossary and index prove invaluable, as does the diagram of the stages of cloning' Observer 'Extremely relevant' Sunday Times 'THE SECOND CREATION offers a rare insight into the minds of researchers who "just want to do good science" while being sensitive to the dilemmas raised by their discoveries' -- Georgina Ferry, Daily Mail 'An admirable chronicle of the birth of the world's first fatherless mammal, describing the science involved in intricate, but never baffling detail. THE SECOND CREATION is, if nothing else, commendably readable -- Robin McKie, Observer 'Bring[s] a proper sense of perspective to a still highly fevered and often very ill-informed debate' -- Robin McKie, Observer 'This book is very readable. Non-scientists will not only learn a lot of biology, but they will also get a good idea of what makes scientists tick ... The book is excellent value for money' -- Anne McLaren, Nature 'Readable, admirably clear and informative' -- Maggie Gee, Daily Telegraph 'Do not come down for or against cloning until you have consulted it' -- David Sharp, New Statesman 'A thoughtful and engaging account of a wonderful chapter in modern biology ... I recommend it to aspiring biologists, scientists and all thoughtful citizens' -- Harold Shapiro, New Scientist 'This book belongs in the hands of anyone curious about clones' -- Publishers Weekly 'Absorbing' -- John Rowe Townsend, Tablet --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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