This article focuses on the relationship between Public Health and Molecular Genetics. Both the notion of Public Health and correlate expressions are discussed in an attempt to establish their respective objects of investigation and fields of practice. In addition, a brief description is given of the precarious health conditions in Brazil. The author remarks on the limited social effectiveness of the role ascribed to public health professionals in Brazil. Techniques and concepts developed by Molecular Genetics are presented and their importance for Public Health is analyzed. Genetic risk is discussed and compared to the idea of inherited disposition to disease, with special emphasis on ethical and epistemological points of view. The notion of expert is considered in terms of its adequacy for training health professionals to deal with issues pertaining to Molecular Biology and Human Genetics in Public Health matters. Lastly, the author argues for the role of the state in defining social priorities in health.
Public Health; Biology; Molecular Genetics; Heredity; Epidemiology