This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ratto, M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Foundations and profiles: splicing metaphors in genetic databases and biobanks

Virtual Knowledge Studio for the Humanities and Social Sciences (VKS), at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in Amsterdam, matt.ratto{at}vks.knaw.nl

In this paper we explore new developments in genomics, in particular the move from data sequencing efforts like the Human Genome Project (HGP), to newer forms of data-driven genomic work that focus explicitly on the complicated relationship between genes and environment. We compare the use of a key term within the HGP, the metaphor of "foundation," to the use of a different term, the metaphor of "profile," within the GenomEUtwin consortium, an exemplar of "post-genomic" projects. By doing so, we attempt to re-think the role of language and metaphor in scientific projects and explore new developments in post-genomic research. These developments include: first, the movement towards an explicit and programmatic acknowledgement of the complexity of gene and trait relationships, second, the use of bio-informatics techniques as exploratory tools of discovery rather than as part of a more straightforward "decoding" effort, third, the development of network infrastructures that link up and provide access to a vast array of different databases, and fourth, the alignment between various disciplines and interests within biology, clinical work, and public health initiatives. We use the metaphor of "splicing" to emphasize the heterogeneous work of scientists engaged in "weaving together" the diverse set of ideas, interests, and players necessary for the success of large-scale scientific projects.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?