Dr. Nathaniel Comfort

Biography

Nathaniel Comfort is a Professor in the Department of the History of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on the history of biology, particularly genetics and molecular biology, as well as biomedicine. He is currently engaged in a book project that examines the growth and evolution of medical genetics from the early days of Mendelism to the Human Genome Project. Comfort explores how concepts of heredity, health, and human enhancement have become intertwined and how the professionalization of medical genetics has its roots in mid-20th century efforts. He emphasizes the historical legacy of individualism in medicine, tracing its origins to late 19th-century notions of biochemical individuality proposed by Archibald Garrod. Through his work, Comfort aims to critically engage with the implications of genetics on identity and health, avoiding simplistic assessments of genetics as either wholly beneficial or detrimental.

Research Interests

Experience