Just around the corner: rhetorics of progress and promise in genetic research.

نویسندگان

  • Robert Evans
  • Inna Kotchetkova
  • Susanne Langer
چکیده

The emerging "diabetes epidemic" threatens to affect 366 million people worldwide by 2030. In the UK, almost 2 million people (about 3.9 percent of the population) are currently diagnosed with diabetes and it is estimated that a further 1 million people have the disease but do not realize it. The prevalence of diabetes, its complications and their effects on the lives of those living with diabetes mean that diabetes research has the potential to bring significant benefits. In this paper, we are concerned with the research involving human embryonic stem (HES) cells that sees diabetes as a potential therapeutic location. Drawing on the idea of the "certainty trough" we examine how the hopes and uncertainties associated with this complex research agenda are understood. We show that those at the research front and those most opposed to the research agenda appear to be the most aware of the uncertainties that need to be resolved. In contrast, funders, typically one-step removed from the research work, see the promise of the research as more real and more likely to be achieved. Significantly, these optimistic funders are supported in their beliefs by the research scientists as constitutive claims are reproduced within the contingent forum. The effect is a collaborative project in which the promise of a technical solution "just around the corner" is sustained whilst concerns about the future difficulties are marginalized.

برای دانلود رایگان متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Unraveling the molecular components and genetic blueprints of stem cells.

Remarkable progress in stem cell biology research over the past few years has provoked a promise for the future of tissue regeneration and gene therapies; so much so, that the use of stem cells in clinical therapy seemed to be just around the corner. However, we now realize there is still a huge task before us to improve our understanding of the nature of stem cells before utilizing them to ben...

متن کامل

O-16: Genetic Counseling and Necessity of Psychological Counseling Skills

Individuals who are at risk because of their family history or concerned about the possibility of having an affected child based any reasons are seeking solution approaches. Nowadays genetic counseling offers hope to prevent from suffering some genetic diseases. Advances in genetics diagnosis testing have played effective role in this regards. Interestingly, Preimplantation Genetic Testing woul...

متن کامل

Estimation of kinematic source parameters and frequency independent shear wave quality factor around Bushehr

In this paper, the shear wave quality factor and source parameters in the near field are estimated by analyzing the acceleration data in Zagros region. Accelerograms recorded by Building and Houses Research Center strong ground motion network have been used. The data have been considered with the magnitude of 4.7 to 6.3 collected from 1999 to 2014. In this approach, the theoretical S-wave displ...

متن کامل

I-4: Male Fertility Preservation Options, Current State-of-The ART and Future Implications

Background Male infertility management has made significant progress during the past three decades, especially after the introduction of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 1992. However, many boys and men still suffer from primary testicular failure due to acquired or genetic causes. New and novel treatments are needed to address these issues. Spermatogenesis originates from spermatogon...

متن کامل

Performance of Mid-rise Buildings with Tubular Structure Under the Effect of Near Field Earthquakes

The aim objective of this study is to investigate the effects of near-field earthquakes on the response of mid-rise buildings with tubular structure.  For this purpose, a 20-story building with a square plan of six by six bays, all with 6 m span, and story height of 3.70 m is considered.  Axial force of columns, shear lag, and inter-story drift values are used as the main response parameters. N...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • Public understanding of science

دوره 18 1  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2009