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The Science of Human Perfection: How Genes Became the Heart of American Medicine
A thoughtful new look at the entwined histories of genetic medicine and eugenics, with probing discussion of the moral risks of seeking human perfection
Almost daily we hear news stories, advertisements, and scientific reports promising that genetic medicine will make us live longer, enable doctors to identify and treat diseases before they harm us, and individualize our medical care. But surprisingly, a century ago eugenicists were making the same promises. This book traces the history of the promises of medical genetics and of the medical dimension of eugenics. While mindful of the benefits of genetic medicine, the book also considers social and ethical issues that cast troublesome shadows over these fields. Keeping his focus on America, Nathaniel Comfort introduces the community of scientists, physicians, and public health workers who have contributed to the development of medical genetics from the nineteenth century to today. He argues that medical genetics is closely related to eugenics, and indeed that the two cannot be fully understood separately. He also carefully examines how the desire to relieve suffering and to improve ourselves genetically, though noble, may be subverted. History makes clear that as patients and consumers we must take ownership of genetic medicine, using it intelligently, knowledgeably, and skeptically.
Almost daily we hear news stories, advertisements, and scientific reports promising that genetic medicine will make us live longer, enable doctors to identify and treat diseases before they harm us, and individualize our medical care. But surprisingly, a century ago eugenicists were making the same promises. This book traces the history of the promises of medical genetics and of the medical dimension of eugenics. While mindful of the benefits of genetic medicine, the book also considers social and ethical issues that cast troublesome shadows over these fields. Keeping his focus on America, Nathaniel Comfort introduces the community of scientists, physicians, and public health workers who have contributed to the development of medical genetics from the nineteenth century to today. He argues that medical genetics is closely related to eugenics, and indeed that the two cannot be fully understood separately. He also carefully examines how the desire to relieve suffering and to improve ourselves genetically, though noble, may be subverted. History makes clear that as patients and consumers we must take ownership of genetic medicine, using it intelligently, knowledgeably, and skeptically.
316 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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March 15, 2023
Forced to write an academic book review on this otherwise I would’ve never picked it up.
It provides an interesting story as to how human genetics and the idea of heredity has become one of the central themes of medical genetics. Stemming from eugenics in the late 1800s to early 1900s the book follows a group of American scientists who contributed their ideas of heredity, genes, and diseases. It was interesting to see how from eugenics, a problematic idea, led to a reputable science where it is more acceptable ethically and morally.
It provides an interesting story as to how human genetics and the idea of heredity has become one of the central themes of medical genetics. Stemming from eugenics in the late 1800s to early 1900s the book follows a group of American scientists who contributed their ideas of heredity, genes, and diseases. It was interesting to see how from eugenics, a problematic idea, led to a reputable science where it is more acceptable ethically and morally.
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September 8, 2012As seen in
Nature
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews