Concepts of Genetic Disease

Abstract

The Human Genome Project (HGP) has spawned a tremendous explosion in research in genetic science and medicine. A major impact of the HGP will be an evolution in the way we think about disease and normal physiology. What follows is an analysis of the concept of genetic disease, in light of the analysis that has taken place in this work, particularly in Chapters 3, 4, and 5. In this way, the analysis in this chapter carries out the lessons of this work by considering the nature of disease--in this case genetic disease--and how we know it, and how it reflects what and how we value. It illustrates how this work has application in current debates.

This essay was originally presented to students in PHIL 320, “Philosophy of Science” in Spring 1997. I am indebted to my colleague, Rex Welshon, Department of Philosophy, for encouraging me to put these ideas into words. I am grateful as well to Mike Dougherty, Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia, for his comments on the chapter.