A Short History of Medical Genetics (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics)

An eminent geneticist, veteran author, OMMG Series Editor, and noted archivist, Peter Harper presents a lively account of how our ideas and knowledge about human genetics have developed over the past century from the perspective of someone inside the field with a deep interest in its historical aspects. Dr. Harper has researched the history of genetics and has had personal contact with a host of key figures whose memories and experiences extend back 50 years, and he has interviewed and recorded conversations with many of these important geneticists. Thus, rather than being a conventional history, this book transmits the essence of the ideas and the people involved and how they interacted in advancing- and sometimes retarding- the field. From the origins of human genetics; through the contributions of Darwin, Mendel, and other giants; the identification of the first human chromosome abnormalities; and up through the completion of the Human Genome project, this Short History is written in the author's characteristic clear and personal style, which appeals to geneticists and to all those interested in the story of human genetics. This Book Traces The Development Of Genetics In Medicine From The First Descriptions Of Inherited Diseases More Than 300 Years Ago To The New Applications Resulting From Mapping And Sequencing The Human Genome. It Follows Both The Scientific And The Medical Advances, Focusing Especially On Those Of The Past 50 Years, Which Have Seen The Field Of Medical Genetics Emerge As One Of The Foremost And Most Rapidly Changing Medical Specialties, Now Influencing The Whole Of Medicine. It Also Examines The Ethical Challenges Faced By Those Working In The Field, And Describes Some Of The Past Disasters That Have Resulted From These Being Ignored, Notably The Abuses Of Eugenics And The Catastrophic Destruction Of Genetics In Soviet Russia. This Is The First Book Of Its Kind; It Is Clearly And Simply Written, And Will Be Valuable To All Those Who Have An Interest Or Concern In The Development Of Medical Genetics, As Well As Those Actually Working In The Field. Historians And Social Scientists Will Likewise Find This Book An Important Foundation For Future Detailed Studies, Which Are Urgently Needed.--jacket. Before Mendel -- Mendelism And Human Inherited Disease -- The Rise Of Classical Genetics -- The Beginnings Of Molecular Biology -- Human Chromosomes -- Human Biochemical Genetics -- The Human Gene Map -- Genes, Populations, And Human Inherited Disease -- Human Genetics As A Scientific Discipline -- From Human To Medical Genetics -- The Elements Of Medical Genetics -- Medical Genetics : The Laboratory Basis -- Human Molecular Genetics -- The Management, Treatment, And Prevention Of Genetic Disease -- Eugenics -- The Tragedy Of Russian Genetics -- Medical Genetics : The Ethical Dimension -- History In The Making. Peter S. Harper. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 501-538) And Index. Before Mendel Mendelism and human inherited disorders The rise of classical genetics The beginnings of molecular biology Human chromosomes Human biochemical genetics The human gene map Genes, populations, and human inherited disorders Human genetics as a scientific discipline From human to medical genetics The elements of medical genetics Medical genetics, the laboratory basis Human molecular genetics The management, therapy, and prevention of genetic disease Eugenics The tragedy of Russian genetics Medical genetics, the ethical dimension History in the making. Rather than being a conventional history, this book transmits the essence of the ideas and the people involved and how they interacted in advancing, and sometimes retarding, the field - from the origins of human genetics through the contributions of Darwin, Mendel, and other giants, from the identification of the first human chromosome abnormalities and up through the completion of the Human Genome project An eminent geneticist, veteran author, OMMG Series Editor, and noted archivist, Peter Harper presents a lively accoutn of how our ideas and knowledge about human genetics have developed over the past century from the perspective of someone inside the field with a deep interest in its historical aspects