HUMAN HEREDITY IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE

描述（改编自研究者摘要）：本研究将 探索人类遗传学在流行文化中的意义， 当代观点在不断变化的背景下对遗传和 自世纪之交以来，优生学一直受到关注。 借鉴社会的方法， 历史学家和传播研究，调查人员将审查一个 各种来源，包括小说，电影，报纸报道和 专业出版物。 他们将清晰地表达关于 人类遗传，解释它们的意义，从而表明它们在人类遗传中的作用， 塑造公众对科技成果的反应， 人类遗传学 初步工作使调查人员的注意力集中在 关于五个主题：“血缘关系”，生物决定论， 基因库，对篡改生命神圣性的恐惧，以及道德 遗传性状的评价。 这些主题将按原样进行探讨 由不同的亚文化，包括黑人，女权主义者， 反堕胎活动家、父母和计划生育团体、宗教团体、 领导者和残疾人。 流行的图像可以让人们深入了解社会 人类基因组信息的伦理含义 倡议 在关于遗传学的流行话语中流行什么隐喻？ 什么 图像是用来描述人类遗传的本质吗 这些能 图像揭示了遗传信息的“消费者”可以通过多种方式 使用和解释这些信息吗 这些图像帮助我们 理解最终会影响人类的流行思想 关系、社会政策和医疗保健决策，以及公共 对未来遗传学研究的接受性。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from Investigators' Abstract): This study will explore the meaning of human genetics in popular culture, placing contemporary view within the context of changing ideas about heredity and eugenics since the turn of the century. Drawing on the methods of social historians and communication studies, the investigators will examine a variety of sources, including fiction, film, newspaper accounts and specialized publications. They will articulate key images and ideas about human heredity, interpret their meaning, and thereby suggest their roles in shaping the public response to scientific and technological findings in human genetics. Preliminary work has focussed the investigator's attention on five themes: "blood relations," biological determinism, concerns about the gene pool, fears of tampering with the sanctity of life, and moral evaluation of genetic traits. These themes will be explored as they are variously expressed by diverse subcultures including blacks, feminists, anti-abortion activists, parents and family planning groups, religious leaders, and the disabled. Popular images can lend insight into the social and ethical implications of the information emerging from the Human Genome Initiative. What metaphors prevail in popular discourse on genetics? What images are used to describe the nature of human heredity? What can these images reveal about the diverse way "consumers" of genetic information can be expected to use and interpret that information? These images help us understand the popular ideas that will ultimately affect human relationships, social policies and health care decisions, as well as public receptivity to future genetics research.