CM Magazine: Megatech series

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 3 . . . . October 6, 2000

Cloning: Frontiers of Genetic Engineering. (Megatech).

David Jefferis.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 1999.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.86 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0058-5 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0048-8 (cl.).

Subject Headings:
Genetics-Juvenile literature.
Cloning-Juvenile literature.
Genetics-Moral and ethical aspects-Juvenile literature.

Grades 5 - 8 / Ages 10 - 13.

Review by Ian Stewart.

**** /4

Alien Lifesearch: Quest for Extraterrestrial Organisms. (Megatech).

David Jefferis.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 1999.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.86 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0058-5 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0048-8 (cl.).

Subject Headings:
Life on other planets-Juvenile literature.
Outer space-Exploration-Juvenile literature.
Unidentified flying objects-Juvenile literature.

Grades 5 - 8 / Ages 10 - 13.

Review by Ian Stewart.

**** /4

Cyber Space: Virtual Reality and the World Wide Web. (Megatech).

David Jefferis.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 1999.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.86 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0058-5 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0048-8 (cl.).

Subject Headings:
Genetics-Juvenile literature.
Cloning-Juvenile literature.
Genetics-Moral and ethcial aspects-Juvenile literature.

Grades 5 - 8 / Ages 10 - 14.

Review by Ian Stewart.

**** /4

Artificial Intelligence: Robotics and Machine Evolution.(Megatech).

David Jefferis.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 1999.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $9.86 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-7787-0056-9 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-0046-1 (cl.).

Subject Headings:
Robotics-Juvenile literature.
Artificial intelligence-Juvenile literature.

Grades 5 - 8 / Ages 10 - 14.

Review by Ian Stewart.

**** /4

excerpt:

from Cloning: Frontiers of Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering will be one of the most important areas of scientific progress in the future. What does the future hold for genetic engineering?
Cloning has already moved ahead by leaps and bounds. It took only two years after Dolly the sheep was created for researchers to clone other mammals. Research in human cloning is progressing, too. Soon, this type of genetic engineering could be an option for people who cannot otherwise have children. However, many people are worried about the problems this new technology will bring.
For other fields of genetic engineering, the future is a whole new field. Gene therapy has already helped many people to fight disease. Researchers are already investigating the possibility of using some animals as organ donors for humans.

The processes of planetary evolution may have taken billions of years. However, as this outstanding series explains, humanity is living within revolutions in many fields: the biological and physical sciences, computer science, artificial intelligence and robotics. Children growing into adulthood over the next few decades will encounter quantum changes in their lives that potentially dwarf the nineteenth and twentieth century's great scientific leaps. There is no putting the genie back into its bottle, but, as in all human endeavors, it is our decision how the gifts it offers will be used.
    The moral consequences of scientific discovery are not the focus of the Megatech books, however. Their purpose is to demystify the latest science and technology that we read about in the daily newspapers and weekly periodicals; see on television and at the movie theatre; experience on home and school computers; attempt to convey in classrooms and, perhaps, even dream about in our personal visions of the future.
    Each of the four books in the series follows a similar pattern. They begin with a historical overview of the subject area's development; offer an examination of the science's current state; finally, they explore what the future may hold, given the remarkable advances being made in these fields. The photographs and diagrams complementing the text are extraordinary in quality and quantity. Every book has a glossary of technical terms and concepts and a "Time Track" of historically significant events in the development of the technology. These aids will also be valuable to students.
    Although the text is replete with complex scientific concepts and language, it is teacher and student friendly. The readability and intelligibility level is extremely high. Consequently, any student interested in cutting edge scientific and technological advances will be intrigued by this series. All the books are of an equally high quality and would be a significant addition to an elementary or middle school library.

Highly recommended.

Ian Stewart lives in Winnipeg, MB, and is a regular contributor to CM and the book review pages of the Winnipeg Free Press.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - October 6, 2000.