Melbourne Medical School Collected Works - Research Publications

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Start date: 2004 × End date: 2004 × Type: Journal Article × Author: COLLINS, VERONICA ROSE ×

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    Genetics and public health - evolution, or revolution?
    Halliday, JL ; Collins, VR ; Aitken, MA ; Richards, MPM ; Olsson, CA (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2004-11)
    During the 19th and early 20th century, public health and genetics shared common ground through similar approaches to health promotion in the population. By the mid-20th century there was a division between public health and genetics, with eugenicists estranged and clinical genetics focused on single gene disorders, usually only relevant to small numbers of people. Now through a common interest in the aetiology of complex diseases such as heart disease and cancer, there is a need for people working in public health and genetics to collaborate. This is not a comfortable convergence for many, particularly those in public health. Nine main concerns are reviewed: fear of eugenics; genetic reductionism; predictive power of genes; non-modifiable risk factors; rights of individuals compared with populations; resource allocation; commercial imperative; discrimination; and understanding and education. This paper aims to contribute to the thinking and discussion about an evolutionary, multidisciplinary approach to understanding, preventing, and treating complex diseases.