Genetic Determinism – Definition, History, and its Role in Medicine and in Ethics

Authors

  • Paulina Wasilewska-Roszkiewicz

Keywords:

enzym, fenotyp, genotyp, anemia sierpowata, paradygmat

Abstract

In this article I briefly present a notion of genetic determinism, its history, and its influence on the understanding of some selected issues within genetics, medicine and bioethics. Special interest is given to three issues: 1) the “nature vs. nurture” problem, which is broadly discussed in science as well as in ethics; 2) the prejudice concerning heritability of various traits; and 3) the potential influence of the Human Genome Project on the comprehension of these matters.

Published

2013-12-01

Issue

Section

Papers