Darwinian medicine

R. M. Nesse, G.C. Williams. Why We Get Sick The New Science of Darwinian Medicine. New York Times Books, 1994. (Note Chapter 6 of this provocative book gives an interesting perspective on natural toxins and raises the question Are we any worse off substituting synthetic poisons for the old natural ones As a note, Bendictin is also presented and a hypothesis... 

For a basic review of heredity, evolution, and natural selection, the previously quoted texts on Darwinian Medicine by either Nesse and Williams or Lappe could be consulted, as they both introduce these concepts. For those readers with minimal background in genetics and molecular biology, which is the foundation of biotechnology, a recent encyclopedia or introductory textbook of biology is the best first step. Alternatively, some of the following texts are appropriate. 

Nesse, R.M. and Williams G.C., Why We Get Sick. The New Science of Darwinian Medicine, Times Books, New York, 1994. 

NESSE, R. M. (2001) On the difficulty of defining disease a Darwinian perspective. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. 4, 37 6. 

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