HUMAN HEREDITY IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE

描述(改编自调查人员摘要)：这项研究将 探索人类遗传学在流行文化中的意义，放置 关于遗传和遗传观念变化背景下的当代观点 世纪之交以来的优生学。借鉴社会发展的方法 历史学家和传播学研究人员将审查一个 各种来源，包括小说、电影、报纸报道和 专业出版物。他们将阐述关于以下方面的关键图像和想法 人类遗传，解释它们的意义，从而暗示它们在 塑造公众对科学技术成果的反应 人类遗传学。前期工作引起了调查人员的注意 关于五个主题：“血缘关系”、生物决定论、对 基因库，对篡改生命神圣性的恐惧，以及道德 对遗传性状的评估。这些主题将按原样进行探讨 不同亚文化的不同表现，包括黑人，女权主义者， 反堕胎积极分子、父母和计划生育团体、宗教团体 领导者和残疾人。流行的图像可以让我们洞察社会 从人类基因组中产生的信息的伦理含义 主动权。什么隐喻在流行的遗传学话语中盛行？什么 图像是用来描述人类遗传本质的吗？这些能做什么？ 图像揭示了基因信息的不同消费者可以 被期望使用和解释这些信息？这些图像帮助我们 理解最终会影响人类的流行思想 关系、社会政策和卫生保健决策以及公众 对未来遗传学研究的接受度。

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.