The growth of new genetics has dramatically increased our understanding ofhealth diseases and the body. Anthropologists argue that these scientificadvances have... » 

The growth of new genetics has dramatically increased our understanding ofhealth diseases and the body. Anthropologists argue that these scientificadvances have had farreaching social and cultural implications radicallychanging our selfunderstanding and perception of what it means to be humanthat we have become biomedicalized fragmented and commodified redefiningour notions of citizenship social relations family and identity. This bookshows how anthropology can contribute to and challenge the ways we have come tounderstand genetic issues. Exploring a range of issues and case studies ingenetic research it provides an ethnographic realitycheck arguing that wemust look beyond the genecentrism of genetic codes family trees and insularpopulations to explore their wider cultural ethical and philosophicalimplications. Including coverage of the controversial and widely discussedIcelandic Health Sector Database this accessible survey will be welcomed bygraduate students and researchers in social anthropology human genetics andbiotechnology. «