The Red Canary: The Story of the First Genetically Engineered Animal

Birkhead, Tim

ISBN 10: 0297829963 / ISBN 13: 9780297829966

Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003

About this Item

Size: Octavo (standard book size). Text body is clean, and free from previous owner annotation, underlining and highlighting. Binding is tight, covers and spine fully intact. No foxing in this copy. Dust Jacket is in as new condition, apart from normal shop shelf wear - contains no tears or chips or other damage. Dust Jacket un-clipped. All edges clean, neat and free of foxing. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilogram. Category: Science & Technology; Genetics; ISBN: 0297829963. ISBN/EAN: 9780297829966. All our pictures shown here are of the actual item, not stock photos. Inventory No: 19608. For further info on this title, click on the "Contact Seller" button within this listing. We will try to reply within 24 hours. Otherwise you can order right now (inclusive of shipping options) from the "Add to Basket" button to the right.

Seller Inventory # 19608

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Red Canary: The Story of the First Genetically Engineered Animal
• Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0297829963
• ISBN 13: 9780297829966
• Binding: Hardcover (Original Cloth)
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: As New
• Seller catalogs:
  • Science & Technology

About this title

Synopsis

At the turn of the 20th century canary mania spread from the US and South Africa to Europe, with 150,000 males being raised each year to satisfy demand. Hans Duncker, a German bird enthusiast, was fascinated by the fact that in the 1870s English canary breeders had caused a scandal by feeding their Norwich canaries with red peppers to turn them orange. Duncker spent the rest of his life (1881-1961) using breeding rather than feeding to try and produce a red canary.

Duncker's ultimately unsuccessful work was picked up by an Englishman, Anthony Gill, and an American, Charles Bennett, in the 1930s. This was all long before genetically modified organisms and Dolly the sheep, but this amazing story (with its backdrop of the rise of Nazism and eugenic policies) has huge contemporary relevance.

This is a highly original narrative revealing how an amateur obsession heralded the inherent dangers of genetic manipulation.

About the Author

Tim Birkhead is Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Sheffield. He has been President of the International Society of Behavioural Ecology, is a member of the Darwin Correspondence Project committee and he regularly contributes to radio and science television programmes, newspapers and magazines.