The Development of Technological Systems in Biomedical Research: The Case of Amniocentesis

羊膜穿刺术是允许诊断分析的技术 胎儿染色体的一部分 按照目前的做法，它涉及四个 单独的步骤：超声成像，羊膜穿刺，细胞 培养和染色体分析。 因此，穿刺术应 不要把它看作是一种技术，而是一种技术体系。 像许多20世纪世纪的技术系统一样， 它的发展--研究阶段--在很大程度上依赖于 科学家和科学进步。 科万教授是 利用这笔赠款， 技术系统的发展被称为 子宫穿刺术。 穿刺系统中的每一个单独的步骤都是 由完全不同领域的专家开发（遗传学家， 工程师、细胞学家、研究医生、临床医生）和 在不同的历史条件下， 时间，在不同的国家。 “研究阶段” 因此，腹膜穿刺术的历史极其复杂， 关于有效科学技术的重大问题 施政纲要而 此外，由于腹膜穿刺术被用作诊断 这可能导致流产的工具，这个过程也不需要 堕胎的可行性和合法性， 这引发了棘手的道德问题， 关于道德问题决定 科学技术研究方向。 根据这项研究资助，科万教授将研究 专门文献和遗传学研究档案， 工程学、细胞学和医学， 这个技术系统的几个组成部分。

Amniocentesis is the technique which permits diagnostic analysis of fetal chromosomes. As currently practiced, it involves four separate steps: ultrasonographic imaging, amniotic tapping, cell culturing, and chromosomal analysis. Thus, amniocentesis should be regarded not as a technology but as a technological system. Like many 20th century technological systems, the first phase of its development--the research phase--was heavily dependent upon scientists and scientific advances. Professor Cowan is undertaking with this grant a history of this research phase in the development of the technological system known as amniocentesis. Each of the separate steps in the system of amniocentesis was developed by specialists in quite different fields (geneticists, engineers, cytologists, research physicians, clinicians) and perfected under different historical constraints, different times, in different countries. The "research phase" of the history of amniocentesis is thus extremely complex and raises significant questions about effective science and technology policies. Further, because amniocentesis is used as a diagnostic tool which may lead to abortion, the process also entails not only the feasibility but also the legality of abortions--a step that raises difficult ethical issues as well as attendant questions about the ways in which ethical concerns determine the direction of scientific and technological research. Under this research grant, Professor Cowan will examine the specialized literature and examine archives in genetics, engineering, cytology and medicine to trace the development of the several components of this technological system.