In rare instances a book appears that irreversibly shapes the debate on a social issue.

Malthus'dire predictions of an expanding human population ultimately exhausting our planet's resources has continued as part of the world's debate on that issue for generations.

A few decades ago Rachael Carson's Silent Spring gathered the scattered evidence of environmental degradation, gave it a focus and spawned today's ecology movement.

Lee Silver's Remaking Eden: Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World outlines in a clear, educational and entertaining fashion humankind's next great undertaking—mastering and controlling its own evolution.

"It is by bringing the embryo out of the darkness of the womb and into the light of day that IVF (introvitro fertilization) provides access to the genetic material within," Silver observes.

"In a very literal sense IVF allows us to hold the future of our species in our own hands."

"Remaking Eden" is a literary/scientific "El Nino" whose unfettered futuristic vision delineates the most profound genetic advances by the human race in history.

In the opening chapters are an intriguing examination of the simply mechanics And overwhelming obstacles to the creation of each new human life.

Few eggs are fertilized. Most embryos perish, passing through the womb without attaching to the uterine wall.

The embryo which attaches slowly grows into a fetus. Just "when" life begins is a decision left to the reader. Professor Silver seems to favor the point between 24 and 26 weeks at which the fetus becomes visible and the brain becomes wired, capable of consciousness and feeling pain.

Between 18 and 22 weeks, the fetus may indeed kick but such activity is the result of random electrical stimulation of muscle tissue, not of conscious decisions made by the fetal brain.

Such information may soothe the discomfort felt by many who've seen anti-abortion films such as The Silent Scream.

However, Remaking Eden primarily focuses on science's current and future impact on the traditional process of childbearing.

Already, IVF techniques make it possible for genetically unrelated surrogate mothers to bear another couple's child.

The Human Genome project is busily mapping the 100,000 genes in two copies laid out along 23 pairs of chromosomes—a project it hopes to complete by the year 2005.

Several specific genes have already been identified as markers for certain diseases such as the one associated with cystic fibrosis. Techniques for removing this gene are expected to be perfected in the very near future.

This aspect of genetic engineering—called "negative genetic engineering" enjoys widespread public approval, including that of theologians and Roman Catholic spokesmen. It spares the unborn child from a specific disease.

But, as Silver points out, even these procedures do, in fact, enhance such children's competitive position in life by giving them the advantage of good health.

The ability to remove defective genes simultaneously advances the means of injecting desired ones.

It is here that science encounters the popular and religious hysteria fostered by science fiction about genetic engineering. Aldous Huxley's dehumanized cloned slaves created by mad scientists "playing God" are real living entities in the public's mind and contribute to a knee-jerk negative reaction to all genetic engineering.

Professor Silver explains the already accomplished genetic engineering done so far mainly on mice and other mammals but quite probably also applicable to humans.

Of the scientific accomplishments, cloning is perhaps one of the simplest. Using fictional examples, Silver blithely describes lesbian couples, having parenthood—one being the cell donor, the other carrying the child to term—in the very near future.

But the now complicated combinations in parenting extend to two mothers and one father, fetal mothers whose eggs give birth although the mother herself was never born, and on and on………

In mice, two embryos can be made to combine creating a "chimera" offspring. Thus the one resulting animal has two different sets of genetic parents.

Silver convincingly argues that engineering will be irresistibly attractive to perspective parents.

Parents always want the best for their children. Those able to afford the best education for their children obtain it. Likewise, those financially able to do so, will have their children enriched with genes that give them greater mathematical, musical or athletic abilities.

Professor Silver's societal future is sometimes difficult to imagine. New reproductive technologies, which he collectively calls "reprogenetics" will create GenRich humans against whom ordinary folks will no longer be able to compete. However, the political implications of such growing disparities between the GenRich and the GenPoor are not addressed.

Remaking Eden: Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World may ultimately prove to be the greatest book of the Twentieth Century.

It's vision of accelerated human evolution and improvement is cool, prophetic and reasoned.

If, as Professor Silver foresees, future generations are not only enhanced by the manipulation of human genes—but acquire new abilities such as night vision and sonar capacities through enrichment with genes gotten from other species, with the passing years he will be recognized as this century's Nostradamus.

Already, Remaking Eden has commenced making waves, generating debate and evoking vicious attacks and criticism.

Most reviews have been laudatory, or, curiously in the case of The New York Times, cautiously and non-judgmentally descriptive.

This may be the first time you've heard of Professor Lee Silver and his trailblazing Remaking Eden. It will not be your last.

His presence is already almost a given in stories on cloning, genetic engineering, reproductive technologies in major publications like The New York Times and on major television networks.

Professor Silver has raised the questions, outlined the debate which can only grow and grow in the coming millenium.

If you read only one book this year, make sure its this one.

Randolfe Wicker, Founder
Clone Rights United Front