Genetics and Society: A Sociology of Disease

by Kerr,Anne

• ISBN13: 9780415300827
• ISBN10: 0415300827
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-08-24
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Genetic science has advanced rapidly in recent years; things happen now that might have seemed like science fiction only ten years ago. Genetics and Society looks at the history of this science and the wide-ranging impact it has had on contemporary society. Using fascinating and cutting-edge examples throughout, Anne Kerr examines topics as diverse as: * the institutional structures that have grown up around the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders * the media representation of genetic debates from designer babies to the genetic sources of alcoholism * the politics of genetic decision-making and the state regulation of both genetic research and the biomedicine industry. Each chapter begins with a summary and a definition of key terms and ends with annotated notes on further reading, meaning that it is as accessible for the layman as it is for the scientist. The resulting student-friendly text will be essential reading for anybody with an interest in genetic science and the impactit is having on society.

Table of Contents

List of boxes	viii
Acknowledgements	ix
1 Introduction	1	(14)
Summary	1	(1)
Introduction	1	(2)
Why this book now?	3	(6)
Themes and chapters	9	(1)
Past, present and future	10	(1)
Patients, professionals and publics	11	(1)
Knowledge, practice and things	12	(3)
2 Past	15	(23)
Summary	15	(1)
Introduction	16	(2)
Surveillance, coercion and voluntarism	18	(4)
Prevention	22	(2)
Reductionism	24	(4)
Commerce, governance and expertise	28	(2)
Contemporary debates about eugenics	30	(6)
Conclusion	36	(1)
Further reading	37	(1)
3 Discovery	38	(26)
Summary	38	(1)
Introduction	38	(5)
The discovery discourse	43	(2)
Knowledge, practice and things	45	(1)
Commercialization	46	(4)
Governance	50	(3)
Expert relations	53	(3)
Defining disease	56	(6)
Conclusion	62	(1)
Further reading	62	(2)
4 Reproduction	64	(20)
Summary	64	(1)
Introduction	64	(2)
Reproductive choices	66	(8)
Down's syndrome screening in the United Kingdom	74	(8)
Conclusion	82	(1)
Further reading	83	(1)
5 Patients	84	(19)
Summary	84	(1)
Introduction	84	(2)
The psychosocial approach	86	(3)
Biography narratives	89	(5)
Risk and responsibility	94	(7)
Conclusion	101	(1)
Further reading	102	(1)
6 Biobanks	103	(20)
Summary	103	(1)
Introduction	103	(3)
Informed consent	106	(5)
Privacy and confidentiality	111	(5)
Commercialization and governance	116	(5)
Conclusion	121	(1)
Further reading	122	(1)
7 Publics	123	(20)
Summary	123	(1)
Introduction	123	(2)
Public opinion	125	(7)
Lay knowledge	132	(2)
Active citizenship	134	(4)
Constructing citizens and publics	138	(4)
Conclusion	142	(1)
Further reading	142	(1)
8 Futures	143	(18)
Summary	143	(1)
Introduction	143	(2)
Policy-speak	145	(3)
Public bioethics	148	(6)
Biomedicine	154	(2)
Mass media	156	(4)
Conclusion	160	(1)
Further reading	160	(1)
9 Conclusion	161	(9)
Introduction	161	(1)
Past, present and future	162	(1)
Patients, professionals and publics	163	(2)
Knowledge, practice and things	165	(2)
Researching genetics and society	167	(3)
Glossary	170	(4)
Notes	174	(1)
Bibliography	175	(14)
Index	189