Hedgecoe, Adam Michael; (2000) Narratives of geneticization: Cystic fibrosis, diabetes and schizophrenia. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D.), University College London (United Kingdom).

Text Narratives_of_geneticization_.pdf Download (9MB)

Abstract

This thesis examines 'geneticization', which is the process by which genetic explanations for diseases and behaviours become more common and the popularity of these reductive ideas leads to the replacement of alternative, more complex explanations. The assumption for many commentators is that geneticization is a negative process which needs to be highlighted and countered. This thesis critically examines geneticization and reconstructs it as a useful tool for sociological analysis through the way in which genetic explanations are used in medicine, in the case of three diseases: cystic fibrosis, diabetes and schizophrenia. Using discourse analysis of review articles, this thesis constructs different 'narratives' about each of these diseases, and shows how linking a disease to a specific stretch of genetic material alters the classification for that condition. In each case study, I highlight the different discursive strategies adopted to persuade the reader that genetic explanations should be preferred. In cystic fibrosis (CF), the narrative is one of expansion, with previously unconnected conditions being subsumed under the expanding spectrum of conditions classified as 'cystic fibrosis'. In the case of diabetes, the narrative is one of division, or splitting, with genetic information being used to splinter the disease into a number of sub-conditions. Finally, the narrative in the case of schizophrenia is that of 'enlightened geneticization'. Because of the controversial history of schizophrenia genetics, authors in favour of genetic explanations use a number of different strategies to produce a narrative which appears to acknowledge the role of nongenetic factors in schizophrenia causation, but which prioritise genetic explanations and present schizophrenia as a genetic disease.

Download activity - last month

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as CSVJSONXML

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item