Understanding the new human genetics: A review of scientific editorials

Miller, Fiona A.; Ahern, Catherine; Smith, Christopher A.; Harvey, Erin A.

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.11.015

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…This article focuses on assessing metaphors representing the future of a technology and exploring possibilities to anticipate future developments. Metaphors describe something in terms of something else; by subsequently bringing these aspects together, the concept described is clarified (Miller, Ahern, Smith, & Harvey, 2006;Wyatt, 2000). A future technology, of which only a few characteristics are known today, can be compared with a more established technology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring emerging technologies using metaphors – A study of orphan drugs and pharmacogenomics

Boon

Moors

2008

Social Science & Medicine

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Due to uncertainties of several aspects of emerging health technologies, there is a need to anticipate these developments early. A first step would be to gather information and develop future visions about the technology. This paper introduces metaphor analysis as a novel way to do this. Specifically, we study the future of pharmacogenomics by comparing this technology with orphan drugs, which are more established and often act as a model with comparable (economic, research organisation, etc.) characteristics. The analysis consists of describing the dominant metaphors used and structurally exploring (dis)similarities between pharmacogenomics and orphan drugs developments. This comparison leads to lessons that can be learnt for the emerging pharmacogenomics future. We carried out a comprehensive literature review, extracting metaphors in a structured way from different areas of the drug research and development pipeline. The paper argues that (1) there are many similarities between orphan drugs and pharmacogenomics, especially in terms of registration, and social and economic impacts; (2) pharmacogenomics developments are regarded both as a future 'poison' and a 'chance', whereas orphan drugs are seen as a 'gift', and at the same time as a large 'problem'; and (3) metaphor analysis proves to be a tool for creating prospective images of pharmacogenomics and other emerging technologies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring emerging technologies using metaphors – A study of orphan drugs and pharmacogenomics

Boon

Moors

2008

Social Science & Medicine

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“…Aristotle was one of the first authors who used metaphors in scientific context about 2000 years ago [7]. Miller et al (2006) described metaphor as "a conceptual system that allows us to understand and experience one type of thing in terms of another" [8]. Hellsten (2002) defined metaphor as "a cross-domain mapping between the source (secondary) and the target (primary) domains" [9].…”

Section: Studying the Future Using Metaphorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groping toward the next stages of technology development and human society: A metaphor from an Iranian poet

Afshari-Mofrad

Ghazinoory

Montazer

et al. 2016

Technological Forecasting and Social Change

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“…Conrad, 1999Conrad, , 2001Petersen, 2001Petersen, , 2002Kitzinger et al, 2003;Holtzman et al, 2005;Petersen et al, 2005;Racine et al, 2006). Editorials of science and clinical journals also reflect the high expectations for genetics for the understanding and management of disease and anticipate important effects on healthcare, especially the healthcare professions and on wider society (Miller et al, 2006). In the future, it is argued, medicine will become 'predictive' and 'personalized', allowing identification of those 'at risk' of developing illness and the use of drugs 'tailored' to the genetic profile of the individual.…”

Section: 'Gene Code-card' Will Help Doctors Treat Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Herceptin for severe breast cancer) is claimed to be moving rapidly into the clinic, assisted by the prodigious networking of the pharmaceutical companies and, in the UK at least, efforts to change the culture of genetic testing within the healthcare system (Hedgecoe, 2004: 106-21). Science and news media portrayals of genetic discoveries and technology 'breakthroughs' reinforce the impression that a range of new, 'personalized' genetic applications is 'just around the corner' (Petersen, 2001;Holtzman et al, 2005;Miller et al, 2006). In October 2005, for example, the journal Nature reported that Japanese companies had developed a machine that would allow doctors to check patients' DNA from a single drop of blood before writing a prescription (Cyranoski, 2005).…”

Section: The Promise Of 'Personalized' Medicinementioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic conception of health: is it as radical as claimed?

Petersen

2006

Health (London)

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The so-called new genetics is widely predicted to radically transform medicine and public health and deliver considerable benefits in the future. This article argues that, although it is doubtful that many of the promised benefits of genetic research will be delivered, an increasingly pervasive genetic worldview and expectations about future genetic innovations are profoundly shaping conceptions of health and illness and priorities in healthcare. Further, it suggests that debates about the normative and justice implications of new genetic technologies thus far have been constrained by bioethics discourse, which has tended to frame questions narrowly in terms of how best to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights and freedoms of the individual. Sociologists and other social scientists can help broaden debate in this field by exposing the assumptions underlying the genetic conception of health and exploring the implications of associated developments

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Understanding the new human genetics: A review of scientific editorials

Cited by 14 publications

References 79 publications

Exploring emerging technologies using metaphors – A study of orphan drugs and pharmacogenomics

Exploring emerging technologies using metaphors – A study of orphan drugs and pharmacogenomics

Groping toward the next stages of technology development and human society: A metaphor from an Iranian poet

The genetic conception of health: is it as radical as claimed?

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