24 Jun Genetics and Responsibility: More Complicated Than We’d Thought
Ref.: www.elsihub.org
By Erik Parens, PhD and Paul S. Appelbaum, MD
In 1991, sociologist Abby Lippman proposed the geneticization thesis, i.e., that “genetic science [would] lead to many aspects of identity, health, and everyday life being explained in genetic terms.” At our recent virtual symposium, “Do genetic findings have an impact on perceptions of responsibility?” sponsored by the Center for Research on Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Psychiatric, Neurologic & Behavioral Genetics at Columbia, in collaboration with The Hastings Center, we found a far more complex picture than the one imagined in early interpretations of the geneticization thesis. Yes, genetic information can have impacts on individuals—in some cases significant ones. But individuals also can actively—and strategically—use genetic information to advance their own purposes. READ FULL ARTICLE