Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Engineering the Human pp 113–128Cite as

Opting for Prevention: Human Enhancement and Genetic Testing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 4717 Accesses

Abstract

Fictional portrayals of our possible future, such as the Hollywood film Gattaca, often conceive of a world where the genetic profile of each individual determines opportunity. Parents select the best sets of genes for their children to make sure they will be as successful, smart and healthy as possible. To what extent is such a scenario credible? Can the concept of genetic prevention be used to control, and if necessary adjust, life, preventing a variety of diseases and the sufferings these diseases can cause? And how realistic is it to offer techniques such as genetic screening for hereditary diseases to the population at large? These decisions have to be taken based not only on ethical, but also on economical considerations.

Translated by Jenny Shelepov.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Asscher E, Koops BJ (2010) The right not to know and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Huntington's disease. J Med Ethics 36(1):30–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Detmar S, Dijkstra N, Nijsingh N, Rijnders M, Verweij M, Hosli E (2008) Parental opinions about the expansion of the neonatal screening programme. Community Genet 11:11–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Detmar S, Hosli E, Dijkstra N, Nijsingh N, Rijnders M, Verweij M (2007) Information and informed consent for neonatal screening: opinions and preferences of parents. Birth 34:238–244

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gezondheidsraad [Health Council of the Netherlands] (1994) Genetische Screening. Gezondheidsraad, The Hague, Publication no. 1994/22

    Google Scholar 

  • Marres N (2007) The issues deserve more credit: pragmatist contributions to the study of public involvement in controversy. Soc Stud Sci 37:759–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelis A (1998) DNA-diagnostiek in Nederland. Een regime-analyse van de ontwikkeling van de klinische genetica en DNA-diagnostische tests, 1970–1997, diss Twente, Twente University Press, Enschede

    Google Scholar 

  • Raad voor Volksgezondheid en Zorg [Dutch Council for Public Health and Health Care] (2006) Zinnige en duurzame zorg, Zoetermeer: RVZ, and Zicht op zinnige en duurzame zorg. Zoetermeer: RVZ, available at www.rvz.net

  • Rutten-van Mölken MPMH, van Busschbach JJ, Rutten FFH (eds) (2000) Van kosten en effecten. Een handleiding voor evaluatiestudies in de gezondheidszorg. Elsevier Gezondheidszorg, Maarssen

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dutch Safety Board, P.O. Box 95404, 2509 CK, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Annemiek Nelis

  2. TNO, P.O. Box 2215, 2301 CE, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Symone Detmar

  3. Department of Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Elske van den Akker

Authors
  1. Annemiek Nelis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Symone Detmar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elske van den Akker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annemiek Nelis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tilburg University, Tilburg, 5000 LE, Netherlands

    Bert Jaap Koops

  2. Faculty FTR, Center for the History and, Radboud University Nijmegen, Erasmusplein 1, Nijmegen, 6525 HT, Netherlands

    Christoph H. Lüthy

  3. Dutch Safety Board, Anna van Saksenlaan 50, The Hague, 2593 HT, Netherlands

    Annemiek Nelis

  4. , Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, 6500 KK, Netherlands

    Carla Sieburgh

  5. Faculty of Arts, Department of English Linguistics, University of Groningen, Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26, Groningen, 9712 EK, Netherlands

    J.P.M. Jansen

  6. Faculty of Arts, Department of English Linguistics, University of Groningen, Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26, Groningen, 9712 EK, Netherlands

    Monika S. Schmid

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nelis, A., Detmar, S., van den Akker, E. (2013). Opting for Prevention: Human Enhancement and Genetic Testing. In: Koops, B., Lüthy, C., Nelis, A., Sieburgh, C., Jansen, J., Schmid, M. (eds) Engineering the Human. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35096-2_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation