Infectious Disease and Host-Pathogen Evolution (Hardcover)
by Krishna R. Dronamraju

Book Description
From the historical beginnings of Haldane's original hypothesis to current research, this book evaluates infectious diseases from an evolutionary perspective. It surveys the latest information related to major infections, such as malaria, influenza and leishmaniasis.

Biological and Social Issues in Biotechnology Sharing (Hardcover)
by Krishna R. Dronamraju

This is the first book to present a comprehensive summary of both the global as well as institutional issues which are involved in biotechnology sharing. It covers the controversial subject of intellectual property rights (IPR) and the patenting of new discoveries in genetic knowledge in both agriculture and the human genome. One controversial issue is the creation of public and private DNA sequencing data bases. Of special interest is the sharing of biotechnology between the developed (rich) and developing (poor) nations. A related topic which requires immediate attention is the exploitation of biodiversity in the developing countries and the resulting extinction of rare species. Sharing or transferring biotechnology and its applications between institutions or different countries raises numerous ethical and moral dilemmas. A comprehensive summary of these issues is presented in this book.

Biological Wealth and Other Essays (Hardcover)
by Krishna R. Dronamraju

The biological wealth of our planet is represented by the biodiversity that surrounds us. Our future wellbeing depends on the care and conservation that we practice to protect and enhance that biodiversity, which resides mostly in developing countries. Yet, the holders of traditional knowledge remain poor, while those exploiting it commercially become prosperous. As we utilize recombinant DNA technology to achieve food security and other goals, serious apprehension has arisen in the public mind with regard to the impact of genetically modified crops on our environment and health. Similarly, the long-term impact of gene therapy is not known either. These dilemmas and their ethical implications are examined in this book in the context of intellectual property rights and international cooperation.

Contents:
- Rights Over Biological Wealth
- Patenting in Agriculture and Medicine
- Drug Development and Intellectual Property
- Global Economy and Genomics
- Persistence of GMOs in the Environment
- GMOs and Politics
- Culture and Biodiversity
- Sacred Groves and Biodiversity
- Who Owns the DNA?
- DNA Research, Gene Therapy and Cloning
- Ethics and Genetic Engineering
- Haldane's Dilemma and Its Relevance Today
- Stem Cell Research: Which Way to Go?
- Race and Human Dignity
- The Role of Science in Developing Countries
- Indian Tradition in Science
- The State of Science in India
- My Tryst with Chandra
- Understanding Violence
- The Hunger Project
- and other articles

The Foundations of Human Genetics (Hardcover)
by Krishna R. Dronamraju

Haldane's Daedalus Revisited (Hardcover)
by Joshua Lederberg (Foreword), Krishna R. Dronamraju (Editor)

This book includes a reprint of a great classic, Daedalus or Science and the Future by J. B. S. Haldane, which caused an instant sensation when it first appeared in 1923 because of its predictions of future scientific developments including 'test-tube' babies. Several eminent scientists, including two Nobel Laureates, comment on its significance today. Of special interest are discussions on the complex relationship between technology and society by Joshua Lederberg, the contribution of Haldane to enzyme kinetics by Max Perutz, the relevance of Daedalus today by Freeman Dyson and Ernst Mayr, the eugenic views of H. J. Muller and J. B. S. Haldane by Elof Axel Carlson, the influence of Daedalus on the development of human genetics and biomedical ethics by David Weatherall, the future of immunity by N. Avrion Mitchison, and the place of Daedalus in the context of J. B. S. Haldane's life and work by Krishna Dronamraju. It will interest all biologists and social scientists, and anyone interested in the complex relationship between science, technology, and society. It is unique for its examination of the impact of predictions on the future developments of science and technology and its impact on our ethical outlook. (Editor)

If I Am to Be Remembered: Correspondence of Julian Huxley (Hardcover)
by Krishua R Dronamraju (President, Foundation for Genetics Research, Houston, Texas, USA) with a foreword by S Zuckerman and the First Julian Huxley Memorial Lecture by J Needham

Sir Julian Huxley was especially noted for his versatility – great biologist, first Director-General of UNESCO, Director of the London Zoo, bird watcher, skilled popular writer of science and a tireless champion of wildlife conservation. This book is a biographical account of Huxley as revealed through his own correspondence and the correspondence of his great contemporaries. An introductory biographical summary is followed by his and others' letters and a collection of some of his writings. A complete bibliography of Huxley is included. The book would be of great interest to all biologists, students of the United Nations, historians of science and nature conservationists.

Contents:

- Introduction
- Life and Work of Julian Huxley: Early Life and Education
- Young Biologist
- Life and Work in Texas
- The Science of Life
- Africa
- UNESCO and Conservation
- The London Zoo
- USSR and the Lysenko Controversy
- Huxley's Popular Essays
- Biology and Humanism
- Huxley's Influence on Biology
- Summary
- Correspondence Relating to Biology
- Other Selected Correspondence
- Bibliography
- Index

Readership: Biologists, students of the United Nations, historians of science, nature conservationists and others.

"And what a book! Dronamraju clearly has high regard and affection for Huxley, whom he met when he was a pupil and close associate of J.B.S. Haldane ... an unusual but welcome feature is that about a third of the text consists of Huxley's own correspondence." - Bernard Dixon . Medical Science Research, 1993

Malaria: Genetic and Evolutionary Aspects (Emerging Infectious Diseases of the 21st Century) (Hardcover)
by Krishna R. Dronamraju (Editor), Paolo Arese (Editor)

This book is an edited collection of papers by leading experts on the population genetics and evolutionary biology of malaria, a disease which results in three million deaths each year in the world. "Malaria Hypothesis" refers to the hypothesis, which was proposed by J.B.S. Haldane at the 8th International Congress of Genetics in Stockholm in 1948, that the identical geographic distribution of both falciparum malaria and thalassemia in the mediterranean region suggests that the heterozygous individuals for thalassemia (or microcythemia as it was called then) might have greater resistance to malarial infection. Haldane, later in the same year, expanded his theory to infectious disease in general at another international conference, at Pallanza in Italy. Haldane's hypothesis was subsequently confirmed in the African populations by A.C. Allison and later by others during the last fifty years, although at first for sickle cell anemia and later for thalassemia with varying degrees of success. The malaria hypothesis still remains today a unique example of that kind of balanced polymorphism, not only in genetics but in all of biology. It opened up new insights into our perspective of the genetics and population dynamics of disease prevalence, particularly infectious disease.

Science and Society (Hardcover)
by Krishna R. Dronamraju (Author)

This book is a compilation of popular essays which first appeared in "Voice of Asia", an Indo-American weekly newspaper. The audience is both the lay public and younger members of the Indo-American community. Subject areas of the essays include "how to choose a scientific career," commentary on recent news items of popular interest such as cloning and Indo-American PACs, social development and concerns including immigration, naturalization, political participation, science education, domestic violence, public health issues, and family values. Another topic of discussion includes promoting U.S.-India cooperation in science and technology with a special interest in the field of genetic research.