Medicine at the interface between science and ethics

Science and ethics both attempt to establish a world view that enables us to better understand the conditio humana. Due to using different concepts the issues are wide-ranging and definitive answers are not easy to find. Mutual discussion about these issues could lead to suggestions for both fields and help biomedicine deal with its critical public. Open-mindedness towards other ways of thinking is a prerequisite. Therefore this volume examines various topics from the perspectives of scientists and ethicists such as new challenges for moral and ethical discourse resulting from the latest advancements in life sciences, the limitations of ethical reflection when it comes to the latest developments in molecular biology, the history of the notion of the gene and its significance in human biology, and misunderstandings between science and the humanities in research on life processes. Also included are articles on stem cell issues, the usage of animal models in translational medicine, the dignity of cells in culture, issues of pluripotency of cells and the reprogramming of cell nuclei, and the significance of methylation patterns for epigenetics. The articles are in English or German.