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Genomics, Obesity and the Struggle over Responsibilities

  • Book
  • © 2011

Overview

Editors:
  1. Michiel Korthals

    1. Department of Applied Philosophy, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands

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  • Focuses on individual autonomy instead of blame
  • Proposes constructive ways of dealing with the grey areas arising from the genomics of health care and food production
  • Unique in its examination of the implications of genomics for obesity from an ethical perspective

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Challenges of Genomics to Obesity and Traditional Ethics

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 3-11

    3. Genomics and Obesity from a Pragmatist Point of View

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 13-23

  3. Concepts of Genomics and Obesity; What Can Genomics Imply for Society?

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 25-25
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  4. Concepts of Genomics and Obesity; what can Genomics Imply for Society?

    1. Behaviour, Environment or Body: Three Discourses on Obesity

      • Tsjalling Swierstra
      Pages 27-38

    2. Contesting the Obesity ‘Epidemic’: Elements of a Counter Discourse

      • Henk van den Belt
      Pages 39-57

    3. Three Main Areas of Concern, Four Trends in Genomics and Existing Deficiencies in Academic Ethics

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 59-76

    4. Obesity Genomics: Struggle Over of Responsibilities

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 77-94

  5. Futures, Genetic Testing and Enhancement

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95
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    2. Obesity in 2020: Three Scenarios on Techno-socio-ethical Co-evolution

      • Tsjalling Swierstra, Jozef Keulartz
      Pages 97-112

    3. Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: How the Promise of a Personalised Approach is Being Squandered

      • Henk van den Belt
      Pages 113-130

    4. Genomics, Obesity and Enhancement

      • Maartje Schermer
      Pages 131-148

  6. Cultural Framing of Genomics-Obesity in The Netherlands and Italy

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 149-149
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    2. Obesity and Genomics in the Netherlands

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 151-159

    3. Obesity and Genomics in Italy

      • Mara Miele
      Pages 161-176

    4. Holland-Italy: A Match Too Far? Comparative Analysis of Italy and The Netherlands on Obesity and Genomics

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 177-187

  7. Food and Health: Toward a Happy Match of Genomics, Obesity and Values

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 189-189
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    2. Prevention of Obesity and Personalized Nutrition: Public and Private Health

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 191-205

    3. Expectations and Disappointments of the Human Genome: The Genomics Health Card and Anti Obesity Pills

      • Michiel Korthals
      Pages 207-214
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Keywords

About this book

This volume addresses the overlapping aspects of the fields of genomics, obesity and (non-) medical ethics. It is unique in its examination of the implications of genomics for obesity from an ethical perspective. Genomics covers the sciences and technologies involved in the pathways that DNA takes until the organism is completely built and sustained: the range of genes (DNA), transcriptor factors, enhancers, promoters, RNA (copy of DNA), proteins, metabolism of cell, cellular interactions, organisms. Genomics offers a holistic approach, which, when applied to obesity, can have surprising and disturbing implications for the existing networks tackling this phenomenon. The ethical concerns and consideration presented are inspired by the interaction between the procedural perspective emphasizing the necessity of consultative and participatory organizational relationships in the new gray zones between medicine and food, and the substantive perspective that both cherishes individual autonomy and embeds it in socio-cultural contexts.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“The book collects research in the fields of genomics, medical, and social studies of obesity and food science, and proposes ethical frameworks to resolve some of the more pernicious ethical quandaries at their intersection. In addition to medical researchers of genomics, public health researchers, and social scientists interested in obesity and nutrition in Europe, interested medical and public health ethicists also will benefit from the procedural and substantive frameworks offered for ethical and political decision making.” (Daniel Bustillos, Doody's Book Reviews, February, 2013)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Applied Philosophy, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Michiel Korthals

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