Gregory Stock publishes <i>Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future</i>

Gregory Stock publishes Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future

June 15, 2002. Gregory Stock released his book Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In scope, Redesigning Humans looks at emerging technologies that can affect reproduction through selecting and altering human embryos, the concept of germline engineering and the inevitable consequences of both (“Gregory Stock - Redesigning Humans,” n.d.). Through his work directing the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA’s School of Medicine, Stock researches the impact of new technologies on human society and the effects these technologies have on the ability to alter human genetics (“Gregory Stock - Biography, Pictures & Videos,” n.d.).

In Redesigning Humans, Stock argues in favour of gene selection for the improvement of future human generations and discusses the ethical implications thereof. The ideas of ‘designer children’, the ability to protect future children from diseases and the idea of enhancement are addressed. He argues that the idea of choosing children’s genes in order to improve future generations is, as the title suggests, inevitable (Stock, 2002).

Stock focuses an entire chapter on the ethics and ideology of these new technologies, as they are no doubt controversial issues in the world today. Although Stock’s book has no direct connection to the eugenics movements of the 20th century, in Canada or around the world, his work has become an important part of the bioethical debate and the topic of modern eugenics.

Redesigning Humans won the Kistler Book Award for best science book of the year in 2003 (“Gregory Stock - Redesigning Humans,” n.d.).

For more information about this topic, watch Gregory Stock’s 2003 TED talk found here.

For more information about Gregory Stock and this book, visit his website.

-Laura Shaw

  • Gregory Stock - Biography, Pictures & Videos. (n.d.). Dr. Gregory Stock: Life Science Entrepreneur + Visionary. Retrieved from http://www.gregorystock.net/bio.asp.

  • Gregory Stock - Redesigning Humans. (n.d.). Dr. Gregory Stock: Life Science Entrepreneur + Visionary. Retrieved from http://www.gregorystock.net/redesigninghumans.asp.

  • Stock, G. (2002). Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Gregory Stock publishes <i>Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future</i>

Gregory Stock publishes Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future

June 15, 2002. Gregory Stock released his book Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In scope, Redesigning Humans looks at emerging technologies that can affect reproduction through selecting and altering human embryos, the concept of germline engineering and the inevitable consequences of both (“Gregory Stock - Redesigning Humans,” n.d.). Through his work directing the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA’s School of Medicine, Stock researches the impact of new technologies on human society and the effects these technologies have on the ability to alter human genetics (“Gregory Stock - Biography, Pictures & Videos,” n.d.).

In Redesigning Humans, Stock argues in favour of gene selection for the improvement of future human generations and discusses the ethical implications thereof. The ideas of ‘designer children’, the ability to protect future children from diseases and the idea of enhancement are addressed. He argues that the idea of choosing children’s genes in order to improve future generations is, as the title suggests, inevitable (Stock, 2002).

Stock focuses an entire chapter on the ethics and ideology of these new technologies, as they are no doubt controversial issues in the world today. Although Stock’s book has no direct connection to the eugenics movements of the 20th century, in Canada or around the world, his work has become an important part of the bioethical debate and the topic of modern eugenics.

Redesigning Humans won the Kistler Book Award for best science book of the year in 2003 (“Gregory Stock - Redesigning Humans,” n.d.).

For more information about this topic, watch Gregory Stock’s 2003 TED talk found here.

For more information about Gregory Stock and this book, visit his website.

-Laura Shaw

  • Gregory Stock - Biography, Pictures & Videos. (n.d.). Dr. Gregory Stock: Life Science Entrepreneur + Visionary. Retrieved from http://www.gregorystock.net/bio.asp.

  • Gregory Stock - Redesigning Humans. (n.d.). Dr. Gregory Stock: Life Science Entrepreneur + Visionary. Retrieved from http://www.gregorystock.net/redesigninghumans.asp.

  • Stock, G. (2002). Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.