The Green Phoenix. A History of Genetically Modified Plants. 2001. illus. 240 p. gr8vo. Paper bd.

Providing the first account of the story behind genetically engineered plants, the author covers the controversial birth of thefield, its sudden death, phoenixlike reemergence, and ultimate triumphas not only a legitimate field of science but a new tool of multinational corporate interests. In addition, the author looks aheadto the potential impact this revolutionary technology will have on human welfare. As the author shows, it was the intense competitionbetween international labs that resulted in thecreation of the first transgenic plants. Two different approaches to plant genetic engineering came to fruition at practically the sametime, and the author's account demonstrates how cross-fertilizationbetween the two areas was critical to success. The scientistsconcerned were trying to tackle some very basic scientific problemsand did not foresee the way that corporations would apply theirmethodology. With detailed accounts of the work of individual scientists and teams all over world, the author pieces together aremarkable account.