Description
Discover the captivating narrative of 'Genetics in the Madhouse', an insightful exploration into the roots of human heredity framed within the walls of early 19th-century mental asylums. This groundbreaking book, authored by Theodore Porter, unveils how the meticulous recording of hereditary factors in insane asylums paved the way for the contemporary science of genetics. Readers will delve into the history of methods like pedigree charts and mental illness censuses, providing a profound understanding of how societal views on heredity influenced scientific inquiry. Published by Princeton University Press in 2020, this brand new trade paperback serves as a critical reminder of the intertwined relationship between data collection and ethical considerations in science. Ideal for historians, geneticists, and those intrigued by the moral implications of heredity research, 'Genetics in the Madhouse' is a must-have addition to your personal library. Shipping is free on this item, and we appreciate your patience, as delivery may take up to 6 weeks. Please note that once your order is placed, it cannot be canceled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691203232
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
The untold story of how hereditary data in mental hospitals gave rise to the science of human heredity
In the early 1800s, a century before there was any concept of the gene, physicians in insane asylums began to record causes of madness in their admission books. Almost from the beginning, they pointed to heredity as the most important of these causes. Genetics in the Madhouse is the untold story of how the collection of hereditary data in asylums and prisons gave rise to a new science of human heredity. Theodore Porter looks at the institutional use of innovative quantitative practices-such as pedigree charts and censuses of mental illness-that were worked out in the madhouse long before the manipulation of DNA became possible in the lab. Genetics in the Madhouse brings to light the hidden history behind modern genetics and deepens our appreciation of the moral issues at stake in data work conducted at the border of subjectivity and science.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691203232
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
The untold story of how hereditary data in mental hospitals gave rise to the science of human heredity
In the early 1800s, a century before there was any concept of the gene, physicians in insane asylums began to record causes of madness in their admission books. Almost from the beginning, they pointed to heredity as the most important of these causes. Genetics in the Madhouse is the untold story of how the collection of hereditary data in asylums and prisons gave rise to a new science of human heredity. Theodore Porter looks at the institutional use of innovative quantitative practices-such as pedigree charts and censuses of mental illness-that were worked out in the madhouse long before the manipulation of DNA became possible in the lab. Genetics in the Madhouse brings to light the hidden history behind modern genetics and deepens our appreciation of the moral issues at stake in data work conducted at the border of subjectivity and science.