Stems and standards: social interaction in the search for blood stem cells.
This essay examines the role of social interactions in the search for blood stem cells, in a recent episode of biomedical research. Linked to mid-20th century cell biology, genetics and radiation research, the search for blood stem cells coalesced in the 1960s and took a developmental turn in the late 1980s, with significant ramifications for immunology, stem cell and cancer biology. Like much contemporary biomedical research, this line of inquiry exhibits a complex social structure and includes several prominent scientific successes, recognized as such by participating researchers. I use personal interviews and the published record to trace the social interactions crucial for scientific success in this episode. All recognized successes in this episode have two aspects: improved models of blood cell development, and new interfaces with other lines of research. The narrative of the search for blood stem cells thus yields a robust account of scientific success in practice, which generalizes to other scientific episodes and lends itself to expansion to include wider social contexts.
Fagan
Melinda Bonnie
MB
Department of Philosophy, Rice University, MS-14, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. mbf2@rice.edu
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic