Myles W. Jackson
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028660
- eISBN:
- 9780262327190
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028660.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter situates the CCR5 gene, specifically the Δ32 allele, in the contexts of four distinct yet related enterprises- race and genomics, Big Pharma, personalized medicine, and personal ...
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This chapter situates the CCR5 gene, specifically the Δ32 allele, in the contexts of four distinct yet related enterprises- race and genomics, Big Pharma, personalized medicine, and personal genomics companies. Biocapitalism has fuelled the hopes of personalized medicine (pharmacogenomics), race-based medicine, and the Americans’ fascination with their genealogies. It turns out that various institutions, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Big Pharma, personal genomics companies, and patient advocacy groups all support pharmacogenomics but for very different reasons. This chapter discusses those different, and at times mutually exclusive reasons.Less
This chapter situates the CCR5 gene, specifically the Δ32 allele, in the contexts of four distinct yet related enterprises- race and genomics, Big Pharma, personalized medicine, and personal genomics companies. Biocapitalism has fuelled the hopes of personalized medicine (pharmacogenomics), race-based medicine, and the Americans’ fascination with their genealogies. It turns out that various institutions, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Big Pharma, personal genomics companies, and patient advocacy groups all support pharmacogenomics but for very different reasons. This chapter discusses those different, and at times mutually exclusive reasons.
Myles W. Jackson
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028660
- eISBN:
- 9780262327190
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028660.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This book uses the story of the CCR5 gene to investigate the interrelationships among science, technology, and society. Mapping the varied ‘genealogy’ of CCR5- intellectual property, natural ...
More
This book uses the story of the CCR5 gene to investigate the interrelationships among science, technology, and society. Mapping the varied ‘genealogy’ of CCR5- intellectual property, natural selection, Big and Small Pharma, human diversity studies, personalized medicine, ancestry studies, and race and genomics, this historical study links a myriad of diverse topics. The history of CCR5 from the 1990s to the present offers a vivid illustration of how intellectual property law has changed the conduct and content of scientific knowledge, and the social, political, and ethical implications of such a transformation. Because this gene codes for the HIV-co-receptor, this account explores how Big and Small Pharma alike drew upon state-of-the-art research to come up with a new form of HIV/AIDS treatment. An important mutation of the gene renders its fortunate possesses by and large immune to AIDS. Since this mutation is found in some populations with a much greater frequency than others, the gene also serves as a prime example of how molecular biology has been drawn into debates about race. Finally, this book discusses the relevance of history of science to current science policy issues.Less
This book uses the story of the CCR5 gene to investigate the interrelationships among science, technology, and society. Mapping the varied ‘genealogy’ of CCR5- intellectual property, natural selection, Big and Small Pharma, human diversity studies, personalized medicine, ancestry studies, and race and genomics, this historical study links a myriad of diverse topics. The history of CCR5 from the 1990s to the present offers a vivid illustration of how intellectual property law has changed the conduct and content of scientific knowledge, and the social, political, and ethical implications of such a transformation. Because this gene codes for the HIV-co-receptor, this account explores how Big and Small Pharma alike drew upon state-of-the-art research to come up with a new form of HIV/AIDS treatment. An important mutation of the gene renders its fortunate possesses by and large immune to AIDS. Since this mutation is found in some populations with a much greater frequency than others, the gene also serves as a prime example of how molecular biology has been drawn into debates about race. Finally, this book discusses the relevance of history of science to current science policy issues.
Myles W. Jackson
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028660
- eISBN:
- 9780262327190
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028660.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
The introductory chapter proffers an overview of the history of the CCR5 gene. It discusses the rush to patent a sequence, whose precise function was unknown at the time of the patent. It also ...
More
The introductory chapter proffers an overview of the history of the CCR5 gene. It discusses the rush to patent a sequence, whose precise function was unknown at the time of the patent. It also explores how the function of the gene was elucidated by various laboratories worldwide. Finally, this chapter outlines how an important mutation, Δ32, confers near immunity to AIDS and what the distribution of that allele is around the globe. The distribution of this allele worldwide added to the debate about race and the genome.Less
The introductory chapter proffers an overview of the history of the CCR5 gene. It discusses the rush to patent a sequence, whose precise function was unknown at the time of the patent. It also explores how the function of the gene was elucidated by various laboratories worldwide. Finally, this chapter outlines how an important mutation, Δ32, confers near immunity to AIDS and what the distribution of that allele is around the globe. The distribution of this allele worldwide added to the debate about race and the genome.
Myles W. Jackson
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028660
- eISBN:
- 9780262327190
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028660.003.0009
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This final chapter brings us up to date with the current state of affairs in gene patenting. It discusses the recent US Supreme Court’s decision on the breast cancer patents held by Myriad Genetics. ...
More
This final chapter brings us up to date with the current state of affairs in gene patenting. It discusses the recent US Supreme Court’s decision on the breast cancer patents held by Myriad Genetics. It also discusses the recent move by the FDA to prohibit personal genomics companies from offering their clients medical information based on their genetic sequence. Finally, it considers the role of history of science in current policy issues.Less
This final chapter brings us up to date with the current state of affairs in gene patenting. It discusses the recent US Supreme Court’s decision on the breast cancer patents held by Myriad Genetics. It also discusses the recent move by the FDA to prohibit personal genomics companies from offering their clients medical information based on their genetic sequence. Finally, it considers the role of history of science in current policy issues.
