Designer Babies, by Roger Gosden (published by Phoenix, £7.99 in UK)

Reproductive technology regularly hits the headlines, but it can be difficult to distinguish between fact and hype. Already we have post-menopausal motherhood, embryos by mail order, and cloned sheep. What's next? Set in the context of the "me generation" - who believe they have a right to a perfect baby, whenever they want it - Professor Gosden expresses concern about the gap between scientific wizardry and our understanding of the biological implications. This much-needed, easy-to-read, comprehensive look at scientific breakthroughs begins with Frankenstein, examines the current belief that science can make miracles, and ends by predicting that genetic advances will soon enable us to order a "designer baby", with the colouring and gender we choose. Ye Gods!