In a drowning world, could you stay afloat? The global economy has been ruined by catastrophic climate change and paranoid governments will do anything to crush dissent. Irith, a young gene researcher, is thrown onto the streets and, with nothing but the clothes on her back, fights to survive in a predatory world. Caught up a battle between Security and a cabal of rebels, she has no choice but to help the rebels’ assault on a secret data centre deep below London. They steal files containing the code for a dreadful terminator virus, but no one can decipher it. The rebels are hunted across the world to New Orleans, slowly drowning under the rising seas, where they plan to destroy the laboratory where the virus is being made. As the hurricane of the century bears down on the sinking city, Irith struggles to crack the secret of the virus before it wipes out all humanity. Then she must defeat a fanatical eco-terrorist who believes that the only way to save the planet is to erase humanity from it – starting with her. You won’t want to miss this edge-of-the-seat eco-thriller by million-selling author Ian Irvine. What reviewers say about the Human Rites series “The action-packed plot of doomsday cults and planetary collapse isn’t far from the truth.” – The Times “A chilling suspense story. Portrays a frighteningly plausible future.” – US Library Journal “A well-crafted near-future eco-thriller.” – Roland Green, US Booklist. “Ian Irvine is a great storyteller. Your heart pounds with the violence and adventure of the racing plot.” – Australian Bookseller and Publisher “Irvine surpasses himself ... impossible to put down.” Sydney Morning Herald. “The most important work of Australian science fiction yet published in this country.” Rob Jan, Sci-Fi Radio Zero-G. “Frantic action and SF terror … in a world where corruption and technology are hell-bent on social destruction.” Murray Waldren, The Australian. “One of the best genre writers around – Irvine's considerable narrative powers are brought to bear in a grim near-future vision of plot and counter plot.” Hobart Mercury. “A book for right now, that everybody should be reading.” Keith Stephenson, Aurealis. Honours and Listings The Last Albatross listed in The Australian’s Best of Summer Reading. Terminator Gene shortlisted for the Aurealis Award.

DNA patenting has emerged as a hot topic in science policy and bioethics as private companies and government agencies spend billions of dollars on genetic research and development in a race to identify, sequence, and analyze DNA from human, animal, and plant species. David B. Resnik's Owning the Genome explores the ethical, social, philosophical, theological, and policy issues surrounding DNA patenting and develops a comprehensive approach to the topic. Resnik considers arguments for and against DNA patenting and concludes that only a patent on a whole human genome would be inherently immoral, while the morality of other DNA patents depends on their consequences for science, medicine, agriculture, industry, and society. He also stresses the importance of government regulations and policies in order to minimize the harmful effects of patenting while promoting the beneficial ones.

The history of food is not as straightforward as it may seem. Food isn't just food. It is ritual, tradition and memory. So begins Ann Cooper's groundbreaking new book on the history of sustenance. Cooper, a renowned chef and graduate of New York's famed Culinary Institute of America, expertly guides us from the roots of agriculture in North America through the profound changes initiated by the Industrial Revolution, all the way up to the present day, offering analyses of recent controversies such as Europe's campaign against Frankenstein food and the genetic engineering of plants and animals in the United States. Throughout, Cooper takes both a macro and micro approach, examining the effect politics, technology, war, international trade and agribusiness have had on the world's food supply, as well as the changing social patterns which have made a family meal at the table almost a relic of the past. Did you know? · 80% of chicken has salmonella. · By the year 2010, 95 percent of items bought at the grocery store may be consumed within 20 minutes of getting them home. · Cancer researchers believe that over one third of all future cancers will be diet-related -- roughly the same proportion now attributable to smoking. Passionate, political, informed and engaging, Bitter Harvest is filled with fascinating facts and anecdotes. Cooper offers a comprehensive analysis of the issue of sustainability, arguing persuasively why we must begin to change everything from the way food is shipped to the basic components of our diets. Touching on virtually every aspect of the food culture, Bitter Harvest is a vibrant example of the emergence of the chef as a political voice to be reckoned with. A food manifesto for the new millennium, it is a must-read for anyone concerned with health, nutrition and the future of our planet. You will never look at your dinner plate in quite the same way again.

The biological wealth of our planet is represented by the biodiversity that surrounds us. Our future wellbeing depends on the care and conservation that we practice to protect and enhance that biodiversity, which resides mostly in developing countries. Yet, the holders of traditional knowledge remain poor, while those exploiting it commercially become prosperous. As we utilize recombinant DNA technology to achieve food security and other goals, serious apprehension has arisen in the public mind with regard to the impact of genetically modified crops on our environment and health. Similarly, the long-term impact of gene therapy is not known either. These dilemmas and their ethical implications are examined in this book in the context of intellectual property rights and international cooperation.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Genome Structure and Function, held in Marciana Marina, Elba, Italy, 13-23 June 1996

This book describes how corporate powers have erected a rapacious system of intellectual property rights to confiscate the benefits of creativity in science and culture. This legal system threatens to derail both economic and scientific progress, while disrupting society and threatening personal freedom. Perelman argues that the natural outcome of this system is a world of excessive litigation, intrusive violations of privacy, the destruction system of higher education, interference with scientific research, and a lopsided distribution of income.

This series looks at developments, inventions and discoveries in science and how a discovery or invention by one individual acn lead to a series of discoveries by others and even a chain of scientific breakthroughs. Each book charts a few connected developments in the particular field of science from first discoveries through to current applications.