The Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control by Ian Wilmut,
Keith Campbell and Colin Tudge, Farrar Straus & Giroux, $27, ISBN
0374141231
DESPITE its grandiose and somewhat misleading title, this is a thoughtful and
engaging account of a wonderful chapter in modern biology: the experiments that
resulted in the birth of Dolly, the sheep cloned from her mother鈥檚 cells.
Dolly has been the subject of a great deal of ink pressed to an even greater
quantity of paper. This narrative should, nevertheless, command our attention
because it was Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell who designed and carried out the
experiments at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh that eventually demonstrated
that it was possible to clone a mammal from the differentiated cells of an adult
animal. Their account is all the more fascinating because it describes how wide
a range of scientific techniques were brought together in a highly creative
fashion at a time when few biologists were exploring this avenue.
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The Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control is
broad in its scope and generous in its nature. The authors aim to provide their
non-specialist readers with an adequate dose of biology to enable them to make
sense of the breakthroughs increasingly being featured in the media. They go
into considerable detail over their own experiments, and acknowledge their debt
to the work of others with a helpful picture of the relevant aspects of the
history of cell biology and embryology.
Their story demonstrates, once again, not only how science is done (including
its many frustrating moments), but also how dependent scientific progress is on
science policy, the structure of scientific institutions, and cooperation and
communication among scientists. It also highlights the increasing importance of
private funding of biological research, and its likely impact on both the
traditional structure and mores of the scientific world and the rate of
scientific progress.
The actual writing of the book was the work of the respected science writer
Colin Tudge. He has, however, chosen to adopt the first person for Wilmut and
Campbell as he tells their separate tales. Occasionally, we see events from
Tudge鈥檚 his own perspective, too. Despite this apparently ungainly structure,
you will come away with a clear account not only of the scientific developments
that resulted in the birth of Dolly, but also a fair picture of the distinct
roles played by Wilmut and Campbell, as well as the institutional constraints
and opportunities.
Another bonus is the book鈥檚 complete accessibility to non-scientists, who
will learn a lot of biology in a pleasant way. Those already familiar with the
science that led to the cloning of Dolly will enjoy the unfolding narrative just
as much.
The story reveals the distinctive personalities of Wilmut and Campbell, and
the characteristics of their individual scientific careers. Following Dolly鈥檚
birth, there were many confused statements from various biologists. This makes
it all the more important that the science behind the feat of creating Dolly is
appreciated fully by scientists and non-scientists alike.
The authors鈥� objective of informing and educating their readers about the
issues surrounding Dolly are, I believe, largely achieved. As they point out,
ordinary people must genuinely understand the nature and meaning of scientific
advances if they are to continue to give science their support. However, the
book shines only limited light on the many ethical issues raised by Dolly鈥檚
creation.
Overall, Wilmut and Campbell鈥檚 鈥渇irst person鈥� account of these remarkable
developments in contemporary biology gives readers their money鈥檚 worth. I
recommend it to aspiring biologists, scientists and all thoughtful citizens.