Genetics and Society: A Sociology of Disease

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 impact it is having on society.