ABSTRACT

In the context of stem cells, new meanings of kinship and social relationships emerge. Stem cells are imbued with meaning beyond a common understanding such as medical insurance and regeneration, and bring new affections into play, new hopes, and the realization that a part of the child is still with the family. What we are experiencing is the medicalization of kinship in which family and kin relationships are being drawn into the biomedical domain, especially when related to the explanation of genetic transmission of diseases. These new forms of kinship may play a limited role in society, yet despite this, blood still has an important role in modern societies where biogenetic kinship is valued. Pediatric genetics is set to see significant changes in its diagnostic practices and possibilities over the next few years as we move into the era of whole genome sequencing (WGS).