The Limits and Lies of Human Genetic Research: Dangers For Social Policy by Jona

Publisher Description

This volume weighs in on the controversial subject of the roles genes play in determining aspects of physical and behavioural human variation. The author argues that genetic research is inadequate to support the conclusions that are often drawn in the media and technical journals about the genetic causes of such human traits as intelligence, depression, obesity, criminality and violence, and homosexuality. His concern lies in the ways that conclusions about the `genetic' causes of certain human traits can be and do get used in legal, political and social decision making. The book makes the case that neither the information we have on genes nor on the environment is sufficient to explain the complex variations among humans.

Back Cover

In The Limits and Lies of Human Genetic Research, Jonathan Kaplan weighs in on the controversial subject of the roles genes play in determining aspects of physical and behavioral human variation. Limits and Lies makes the case that neither the information we have on genes nor on the environment is sufficient to explain the complex variations among humans.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Explaining Differences; Chapter 2 Varieties of Determinism; Chapter 3 Genes and Causation; Chapter 4 IQ and Social Policy; Chapter 5 Criminality and Violence; Chapter 6 Gay Genes and the Reification of Homosexuality; Chapter 7 On the Medicalization of Mood-Affective Disorders; Chapter 8 Born to be Fat? Culture and the Meaning of Weight; Chapter 9 Contract Pregnancies and Genetic Parenthood; Chapter 10 The Concept of the Environment;

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