Watching the race to find the breast cancer genes.
This article focuses on a crucial development in genetic research that occurred in the 1990s: the identification of the first two of the genes responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2). Issues addressed touch on the evolution of the subfield, its potential impact on cancer treatment, and industry involvement. The article follows the activities of the various research groups competing in the race to identify the genes and depicts the frequent conflicts between them. Data are derived chiefly from a bibliometric database. The results show a diversity of research practices. Industrial researchers interacted within far more tightly knit networks than their counterparts working in public organizations. The patenting and commercial exploitation of results led to fierce battles, with one group capturing most of the benefits.
Dalpe
Robert
R
Universite de Montreal, Canada.
Bouchard
Louise
L
Houle
Anne-Julie
AJ
Bedard
Louis
L
D015706:Bibliometrics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D036281:Genetic Research / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history*; D006666:History of Medicine; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D038622:Internationality; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011643:Publishing / Q000266:history; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000266:history; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities