Genetic Engineering
After listening to the audio version of Michael Crichton's newest novel, Next, I started thinking about biological patents. Crichton dramatizes what could be the effects of several issues involving gene patents, genetic engineering, and medical research. Next is a fictional work --- reviewers should repeat that several times before penning their diatribes against Crichton. It was a real page turner. However, some of the more bizarre things that he writes about are NOT fiction. Much of the fun of Crichton's works are finding out which parts are fiction and which sound too bizarre to be true but really are. For example, have you ever wondered who owns your disease?
Crichton felt strongly enough about these issues to write an editorial for the New York Times (registration required). The World Health Organization has some interesting articles on the subject available through their Genomic Resource Center. More information is also available through the Human Genome Project. Of course, GRPL also has many books about this important science, so check them out!