Purpose of the Course
The rapidly-expanding field of genetics in general, and of human genetics in particular, has become central not only to most modern biological research, but also to many social, political and economic policies facing human beings today. Because these issues inevitably involve the interface between technical problems and social concerns, they are often dealt with in only a piecemeal way: some discussions or courses deal only with the technical, while others deal only with the social and ethical. The aim of this course is to integrate both areas of concern and examine the ways in which they do (and do not) influence each other. Since ethical issues always emerge in conjunction with new technological capabilities in science, one of the clearest ways to study their interaction is through an historical approach. Issues of genetics today, though often employing new technologies, grow out of, and build on, pre-existing issues and technologies that are, in turn, the product of an earlier period of history. Moreover, the social, political and ethical issues of one time or cultural setting, are different from those of another. Thus, to understand how genetic ideas are formulated in their own time, it will be necessary to approach the development of human genetics in historical terms. One major aim of the course will thus be to gain some insight into how science and society interact, and to develop some criteria for determining when that interaction is ethically and socially responsible, and when it is not.
Format
The course will be taught seminar-style, with some mini-lectures from time to time. By and large the format will be based on discussion. Many readings will be from primary sources (original research papers and reports), but others will be from secondary sources as well (historical and/or philosophical analyses).
Requirements
In addition to the weekly readings, everyone will be expected to make several in-class presentations on specific topics to be assigned as we proceed. There will be a mid-term writing assignments (short paper, 5-7 pp) and a final research paper (20 + pp) on a topic to be chosen in consultation with the instructor. While attendance is not formally required, since the course is discussion oriented, frequent absences can pose problems.
