The Second Genesis: The Coming Control of Life

Here, in a book as provocative as it is fascinating, is the world of the Second Genesis - with man himself at the controls. In an era when reality often exceeds imagination, man increasingly becomes the trustee of his own evolution on earth. The biological sciences are progressing at a phenomenal and ever accelerating rate. As the secrets of life continue to unfold, it will be possible to boost the capacity of memory, alter the personalities of criminals and psychotics, and by-pass sex entirely in the creation of human beings. Hereditary and congenital defects - hemophilia, albinism, harelip, even some forms of mental incapacity - may be prevented by prenatal treatment or even by direct surgery on the chromosomes. Mr. Rosenfeld, one of the nation's most distinguished science writers, discusses the incredible possibilities inherent in current biomedical exploration, and uses BSP (biosocioprolepsis) to foresee the consequences. He also shows how man has already entered into a science fiction world of artificial breeding,psychochemicals and cybernetics - a whole new biotechnological environment that will have an overwhelming impact on the very fundamentals of religion, philosophy, law, sex, morality, and the conduct of our daily lives.