Contested technologies : xenotransplantation and human embryonic stem cells

The development of new biomedical technologies has some enthusiastic proponents scientists, the medical community, patient organisations, and politicians all hope for new cures and new industrial applications. At the same time, there is resistance to the new technologies from other groups for a variety of religious, political, and ethical reasons.

In Contested Technologies, Anders Persson and Stellan Welin address the important perspectives on xenotransplantation and human embryonic stem cell research. For various reasons, the methods have been fervently promoted and equally vehemently opposed by different groupings. The authors investigate the political, social, and ethical forces at work, and discuss how this kind of research and development is affected by the necessary involvement of commercial actors and strong financial incentives. Stories of hope, fear, and hype are matched by stories of success, failure, and fraud. Xenotransplantation and the use of human embryonic stem cells are truly contested technologies.

Anders Persson has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He has a background in sociology of science and science ethics.

Stellan Welin is Professor of Biotechnology, Culture, and Technology at the University of Linköping, Sweden. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy, and has participated in several projects on the ethical issues in emerging biomedical technologies.