Evaluating the U.S. Human Genome Project

ISBN-13: 9783639128871 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 192 str.

Lauren McCain

Opis

This book, Evaluating the U.S. Human Genome Project,presents a comprehensive policy appraisal of alarge-scale science program. Sponsored in the UnitedStates by the National Institutes of Health andDepartment of Energy, the Human Genome Project (HGP)endeavored to sequence a reference human genome. Agenome is the complete set of DNA comprised ofnucleotide bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, andguanine, in a cells nucleus. The HGPs scientificgoal was to determine the order of these chemicalbases within the 23 pairs of chromosomes. Projectpromoters justified the public investment, $3.3billion, with assurances that the HGP would lead topublic health benefits. Project leaders also pledgedto address harms of genome research and technology byestablishing Ethical, Legal, and Social Implicationsprograms. Though a scientific success, the HGP hasnot lived up to common interest expectations. TheHGPs technical design facilitated efficientsequencing but isolated the project from its largersocial context and excluded non-scientiststakeholders from decision making. The book offersrecommendations to help human genome research andtechnology serve its public purposes.

O autorze

Lauren McCain, Ph.D. received her doctorate in political science
from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2003. She has
worked for the National Center for Genome Resources and the
Center for Science, Policy & Outcomes. She lives in Denver and is
currently employed by WildEarth Guardians.