Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Comparison of Two Representative Methods for Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Published on: October 20, 2023
Science fiction/science fact: medical genetics in news stories
Alan Petersen1, Alison Anderson, Stuart Allan
1School of Sociology, Politics and Law, University of Plymouth, 8 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK. alan.petersen@plymouth.ac.uk
Abstract:
News media coverage of biotechnology issues offers a rich source of fictional portrayals, with stories drawing strongly on popular imagery and metaphors in descriptions of the powers and dangers of biotechnology. This article examines how science fiction metaphors, imagery and motifs surface in British newspaper (broadsheet and tabloid) coverage of medical genetic issues, focusing on press reporting of two recent highly publicised news media events; namely, the Hashmi and Whitaker families' plights to use stem cells from a 'perfectly matched sibling' for the treatment of their diseased children. It is concerned in particular with the extent to which journalists' use of certain literary devices encourages preferred formulations of medical genetics, and thereby potentially shapes public deliberation about scientific developments and their consequences for society. Understanding how science fiction sustains science fact, and vice versa, and how the former is portrayed in news media, it is argued, would thus seem to be crucial in the effort to understand why people respond so strongly to biotechnologies, and what they imagine their consequences to be.
More Related Videos
06:04An Optimized Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Based Reverse Poly-Transfection Technique for Rapid Exploration of Nucleic Acid Ratios
Published on: December 8, 2023
07:15Determining the Likelihood of Variant Pathogenicity Using Amino Acid-level Signal-to-Noise Analysis of Genetic Variation
Published on: January 16, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Genetic Screens
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
What is Genetic Engineering?
Gene Therapy
Gene Therapy
CRISPR
CRISPR