King Emma, Lyall Catherine
NMAHP Research, University of Stirling, UK.
School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Sociol Health Illn. 2018 May;40(4):687-701. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.12717. Epub 2018 Mar 2.
The case of cultured red blood cells (RBCs) currently being grown in a laboratory for future use in human transfusion raises questions about the ontological status of such products of modern biotechnology. This paper presents results from a six-year ethnographic study involving interviews, focus groups and other forms of engagement with the scientific research team and other stakeholders, including public groups, which sought to understand respondents' reactions to cultured RBCs. These cells, derived from stem cell technology, have the potential to address the global shortage of donated blood. How these blood cells are situated within the spectrum of 'natural' to 'synthetic' will shape expectations and acceptance of this product, both within the scientific community and by wider publics: these blood cells are both novel and yet, at the same time, very familiar. Drawing on discussions related to classification and 'anchoring', we examine the contrasting discourses offered by our respondents on whether these blood cells are 'natural' or not and consider the impact that naming might have on both their future regulation and the eventual uptake of cultured RBCs by society.
目前正在实验室培养以供未来人类输血使用的红细胞（RBC）案例引发了关于这种现代生物技术产品本体论地位的问题。本文展示了一项为期六年的人种志研究结果，该研究涉及访谈、焦点小组以及与科研团队和其他利益相关者（包括公众群体）的其他形式的互动，旨在了解受访者对培养红细胞的反应。这些源自干细胞技术的细胞有潜力解决全球献血短缺问题。这些血细胞在“天然”到“合成”的光谱中的定位将塑造科学界和更广泛公众对该产品的期望和接受度：这些血细胞既新颖又同时非常熟悉。借助与分类和“锚定”相关的讨论，我们审视了受访者关于这些血细胞是否“天然”所提供的不同论述，并考虑命名可能对其未来监管以及社会最终采用培养红细胞产生的影响。
