Population and the New Biology

Proceedings of the 1973 Eugenics Society Symposium edited by Bernard Benjamin, Peter R. Cox and John Peel.

"Will new methods for the control of fertility affect the birth rate or the sex and health of the new born?  How far can life be prolonged by medical discoveries?  Can we breed a better type of man or woman? Are legal problems likely to arise?  From an ethical and moral point of view, can biologists be allowed to go on as they choose?  These and related issues are discussed, in depth, by a number of leading representatives of the biological and social sciences, with the aim of assessing, in a rational manner, the impact of current scientific developments on our life.

The purpose of this book is to bring together the contributions of these experts and by so doing, to present a comprehensive picture which is both well-informed and free from the personal bias that a one-author book might have.  It deals in an unimpassioned manner with the implications for population structure and growth of those recent advances which have come to be known as the ‘new biology’.  To those who are worried about the future, as portrayed by ‘doomsters’, the text provides reassurance in that it presents a balanced and scare-free evaluation of the entire situation.  This is the third publication in a trilogy on the general theme of ‘population’ prepared by the Eugenics Society and published by Academic Press, As with its predecessors, (Population and Pollution and Resources and Population) this volume contains much of importance for those involved with human biology, genetics, sociology, demography, economics, geriatrics and family planning: it will also hold a special appeal for all who are interested in the social responsibilities of scientists, and the law with regard to social issues."  (From the dust jacket of the book.)

Main contents General Introduction J. M. Thoday The Creation of Life by New Means B. N. Hemsworth Health Problems in Old Age T. W. Meade What Limits the Life Span? P. R. J. Burch The Future of Oral Contraception Clive Wood New Technology for Voluntary Sterilization M. I. Free and G. W. Duncan Prostaglandin and Other Methods of Early Termination of Pregnancy G. M. Filshie Population Policies in the Developing Countries C. M. Stewart Some Genetic Consequences and Problems of the New Biology J. A. Beardmore The Galton Lecture, 1973: Population Prospects and the New Biology Peter R. Cox The Economist’s Approach to the Doctor’s Dilemma J. D. Pole Legal Approaches to the New Biology B. M. Dickens New Biology—New Ethics? Eliot Slater

We regret that we no longer have any copies of this book available for sale.  Second-hand copies have been offered on the Internet for between $10 and $20.  The General Secretary may be able to provide photocopies of individual chapters for 20p per page.