Brown, Nik and Michael, Mike. 2001. Switching between science and culture in transpecies transplantation. Science, Technology & Human Values, 26(1), pp. 3-22. [Article]

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Abstract or Description

This article discusses xenotransplantation (XTP: the surgical use of nonhuman tissues, organs, and cells for human transplantation) and examines the way its scientific promoters have defended their technology against potentially damaging public representations. The authors explore the criteria used to legitimate the selection of the pig as the best species from which to "harvest" transplant tissues in the future. The authors’ analysis shows that scientists and medical practitioners routinely switch between scientific and cultural repertoires. These repertoires enable such actors to exchange expert identities in scientific discourse for public identities in cultural discourse. These discourses map onto similarities and differences between animal donors and human hosts. Finally, the case is used to comment on a number of related approaches where the dynamics of medical and scientific authority are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1177/016224390102600101
Keywords:	xenotransplantation, donor, host, actor-network theory, purification, translation, transgenic pig, public
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Sociology
Dates:	Date Event 2001 Published
Item ID:	2502
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2010 16:50
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2017 11:12
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/2502

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