Yuan Yue, Man-made Panic: Field Research on Transgenesis on Global Basis, New World Press, November 2014

On Wikipedia, gene transfer technology, also known as "transgenesis," is defined as "the process of introducing an exogenous gene - called a transgene - into a living organism so that the organism will exhibit a new property and transmit that property to its offspring." It can be facilitated by "liposomes, plasmid vectors, viral vectors, pronuclear injection, protoplast fusion, and ballistic DNA injection."

This is cutting edge technology. However, in Chinese public discourse, people from nearly all walks of life feel they have a right to speak on the issue of genetically modified organisms, rather than leaving it to professionals or experts.

The public debate over whether gene transfer technology, especially genetically modified food, should be introduced into daily life, has been growing in intensity. But in most cases, these debates have been reduced to abuse, rife with personal attacks, pseudoscientific remarks and emotional accusations.

The foul atmosphere mirrors how China's immature public opinion deals with serious matters. The epidemic of unqualified figures and their opinions has caused unnecessary wrangles and bickering, preventing many progressive technologies and ideas from playing a positive role.

Therefore, the record of gene transfer technology needs to be set straight. Yuan Yue, a guest writer for Chinese magazine Life Week, has written an important book on transgenesis, titled Man-made Panic: Field Research on Transgenesis on Global Basis.

As the name of the book indicates, the significance of Yuan's work rests on his seven years of field research, in which he visited nine countries to acquire firsthand and most reliable information on this matter.

What's more, Yuan was a biologist who has a master's degree before he became a writer and made himself known to the public under the online pseudonym of Tumotuo.

Besides authority and credibility, readability is also the key for a book aimed at ordinary people when they are confused by the mystery of gene transfer technology. Yuan has managed to integrate these qualities in his work, cleverly converting complicated scientific issues into interesting stories through metaphor and analogy. This book is a landmark guide for nonprofessionals.

Yuan embraces the development of gene transfer technology, and he gives abundant proofs and analyses, from both scientific and social perspectives, to illustrate that this technology is beneficial to humanity.

Meanwhile, he holds an objective view over this technology, saying "gene transfer technology can only play a small part in agricultural development. It is the germplasm resources that matter."

He criticizes that most people go against the practice of gene transfer technology into agriculture because they "lack sufficient knowledge in this field and are too conventional to accept new things," which, as he argues, "is the root cause why the promotion of this technology has met so many obstacles."

Yuan has specified his preferred readership, the middle-of-the-roader who is interested in this technology.

He argues that this group of people represents the silent majority and will make a real difference to shifting public opinion.

Yuan's research will not be approved by everyone, but at least he is acting as a role model to reverse the vicious circle of unproductive debate on serious scientific matters. This is the significance of his book to the general public.