HNRS-120 | Designing Humans

Full Title: Designing Humans

Topic Description:

With the help of genetic technologies, it is possible to choose the sex of your baby, screen an embryo for genetic markers of disability, and have your genome sequenced by mail. Gene editing is also on the horizon: in 2018, the first gene-edited babies were born in China, sparking debate over the ethics of manipulating DNA to design human health, appearance, and ability. While a greater understanding of genetics has advanced human health, this course explores the social and ethical implications of these advances. We begin with a sociological and ethical analysis of the American Eugenics Movement, then engage in contemporary debates on the use of genomics in medicine and reproduction. We explore the following questions: Why did the Eugenics Movement emerge in the U.S.? How do popular understandings of human genetics shape discourse on race, gender, and disability? Should a child’s genetic makeup be considered a parent’s reproductive choice?

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: November 2019