Biotechnology Unglued: Science, Society, and Social Cohesion

207 Pages·2005·1.275 MB·English

by  Michael D. Mehta (ed.)

Biotechnology Unglued

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Edited by Michael D. Mehta
Biotechnology Unglued:
Science, Society, and Social Cohesion

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© UBC Press 2005
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior
written permission of the publisher, or, in Canada, in the case of photocopying
or other reprographic copying, a licence from Access Copyright (Canadian
Copyright Licensing Agency), www.accesscopyright.ca.
15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in Canada on acid-free paper
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Biotechnology unglued : science, society and social cohesion / edited by Michael
D. Mehta.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7748-1133-1
1. Biotechnology – Social aspects. I. Mehta, Michael D., 1965-
TP248.23.B568 2005 303.48’3 C2004-906768-0
UBC Press gratefully acknowledges the financial support for our publishing
program of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry
Development Program (BPIDP), and of the Canada Council for the Arts, and
the British Columbia Arts Council.
UBC Press
The University of British Columbia
2029 West Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
604-822-5959 / Fax: [phone]
www.ubcpress.ca

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To Kathy and Kendra –
Birds of a feather flock together

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Contents
Acknowledgments / ix
1 Introduction: The Impact of Innovations in Biotechnology on Social
Cohesion / 1
Michael D. Mehta
2 The Impact of Agricultural Biotechnology on Social Cohesion / 13
Michael D. Mehta
3 Agricultural Biotechnology and Developing Countries: Issues of Poverty
Alleviation, Food Security, and Sustainable Development / 27
Jacqueline E.W. Broerse and Joske F.G. Bunders
4 Legitimation Crisis: Food Safety and Genetically Modified Organisms / 51
Christopher K. Vanderpool, Toby A. Ten Eyck, and Craig K. Harris
5 Genetically Modified Foods in Norway: A Consumer Perspective / 70
Margareta Wandel
6 Commercializing Iceland: Biotechnology, Culture, and the Information
Society / 95
Kyle Eischen
7 Biotechnology and Social Control: The Canadian DNA Data Bank / 117
Neil Gerlach
8 Biotechnology as Modern Museums of Civilization / 133
Annette Burfoot and Jennifer Poudrier
9 The Production, Diffusion, and Use of Knowledge in Biotechnology:
The Discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes / 161
Robert Dalpé, Louise Bouchard, and Daniel Ducharme
Contributors / 181
Index / 185

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Acknowledgments
The study of social cohesion is by its very nature an exercise in networking
and relationship building. To understand the challenges posed by technolo-
gies such as biotechnology to social cohesion requires the input, assistance,
and support of many people and organizations. The writing and produc-
tion of this book comprise a prime example of the necessity of such collabo-
rative efforts.
I would like to thank all of the contributors to this edited book. Your chap-
ters form the foundation of this book. Without your hard work, intellectual
devotion, and patience, Biotechnology Unglued would not exist.
The financial support of three organizations is especially appreciated. A
generous grant from the University of Saskatchewan to support faculty in
their publishing endeavours helped to defray a large portion of the costs
associated with producing this book. A grant from Genome Prairie’s GE3LS
program to cover my research on farmers’ perceptions of risk and techno-
logical change was also drawn upon to cover costs. Finally, a grant from
Ag-West Bio Inc. was provided, without strings attached.
I would like to thank Randy Schmidt from UBC Press for his early and
continued support of this book. His input and coordination of the many
tasks involved in making such a project possible are appreciated. Thanks
are also owed to the other staff members at UBC Press for copyediting, in-
dexing, and several of the behind-the-scenes services provided.

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