Genes make us what we are - they control our bodies and how we look. So why does our environment - where we live, what we eat - also influence us?

This is an accessible look at genetics. The book is primarily concerned with putting both the scientific and the ethical sides of genetics, and aims to give an easy-to-grasp picture of this relatively new and developing science. It attempts to make the topic relevant to the individual reader and takes a global look at the social, political and ethical issues involved. Topics covered include fertility and selection, cloning (plants, animals and the implications for humans), genetically altered vegetables, gene therapy and possible future outcomes of this controversial science.