What is a knockout mouse? Why is golden rice controversial? How does naturalcloning happen? The Why Science Matters series demonstrates how the sciencewe learn ... » 

What is a knockout mouse? Why is golden rice controversial? How does naturalcloning happen? The Why Science Matters series demonstrates how the sciencewe learn at school is important in every aspect of our everyday lives. Usingcase studies and investigations the series describes the development ofscience and technologies that can improve our lives or lead to new scientificchallenges and controversies. In Using Genetic Technology we find out aboutthe potential benefits and risks of technologies such as gene therapy whichhave to be balanced against one another. We learn how characteristics of livingthings are the combined result of a number of genes and how scientists canalter an organism by altering its genetic makeup. We discover how it couldbecome normal to grow crops or farm animals to produce drugs and medicines inthe same way that we farm them for food milk or wool today. «