Communicating Genetics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Introduction: Visualizing Genetics for Public Readers

   • Han Yu

   Pages 1-32

3. The Photographic View: Observational Record and Symbolic Excess

   • Han Yu

   Pages 33-69

4. The Microscopic View: Minuscule Science and Art

   • Han Yu

   Pages 71-106

5. The Illustrated View: Iconic Explanations and Figurative Metaphors

   • Han Yu

   Pages 107-141

6. The Code View: Cracking the Genetic Code of Life

   • Han Yu

   Pages 143-177

7. The Graph View: Navigating Big Data Science

   • Han Yu

   Pages 179-218

8. The Structural View: 2D Realities and 3D Possibilities

   • Han Yu

   Pages 219-252

9. Conclusion

   • Han Yu

   Pages 253-261

10. Back Matter

    Pages 263-271

    PDF

This book examines the visual representations used in the popular communication of genetics. Drawing upon public science communication theories, information design theories, and social semiotics, the book offers both in-depth analyses and high-level synthesis of how genetics is visualized for the U.S. public from the early 20th century to the present. Individual chapters focus on six visual genres: photographs, micrographs, illustrations, genetic code images, quantitative graphs, and molecular structure images. Han Yu challenges readers to consider the significance of these images we often take for granted, including their historical contexts, scientific backstories, information richness, stylistic choices, economic motivations, and social implications. In doing so, the book reveals the complex cognitive, affective, and social-cultural factors that both shape and are shaped by these images. The book will be particularly useful to scholars of public science communication and visual communication, practitioners of science communication, and scientists from a range of related life science disciplines. 

• Genetics
• DNA
• Popular Science
• Social Semiotics
• Information communication theory
• Visual communication
• Design
• Art

“Communicating Genetics: Visualizations and Representations is a thoughtful, important book that goes beyond theoretical discussion about visual representation of genetics. … I highly recommend this book for science and technical communication graduate students (even if they are not studying scientific communication) and scholars and practitioners in these fields as well. I make this recommendation not only because of the important subject matter regarding genetics, but anyone who has a hand in creating visuals can benefit from this excellent study.” (Diane Martinez, Technical Communication, Vol 65 (2), May, 2018)

• Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA

  Han Yu

Han Yu is professor of technical communication at Kansas State University, USA. Her research interests include scientific/science communication, visual rhetoric, and intercultural communication. She is author of The Other Kind of Funnies: Comics in Technical Communication and co-editor of Negotiating Cultural Encounters: Narrating Intercultural Engineering and Technical Communication.

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