Commentary 3. 'Telling the truth about genomics': Toward a societal agenda for genomics research

Abstract

The issue Ruth Chadwick addresses in her paper is an important and interesting one. Until recently, while medicine as a profession was guided by a ‘service’ ideal, the moral ideal of biologists (and other scientists) was more or less oriented toward free enquiry and scientific creativity. Although they tended to see themselves as serving societal interests in the longer run, their agendas were oriented toward biological questions rather than toward societal demands.