Keep Learning: Future Perfect: Conversations on the Meaning of the Genetics Revolution

The resources for further reading on this page are intended to complement our "Future Perfect" program series and, like the series, foster a continuing dialogue by informing the public about the basic--and not-so-basic--science and technology of genetics. These readings also raise the important ethical, legal, and social issues that advances in genetics engender. They range from primers on the science of genetics to discussions of its various potential uses and consequences to in-depth philosophical reflections of its implications.

Currently articles have been posted related to the following topics:

Check back throughout 2006 and 2007 as we continue to add material related to events later in the series. Also, continue the conversations on genetics at the Keep Talking: Future Perfect blog.

Views and opinions expressed by individual panelists, scholars, and artists in the articles featured on this webpage do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Illinois General Assembly.

The Illinois Humanities Council cannot guarantee the accuracy or continued availability of online texts. Please notify us if you encounter any problems.

Why Should We Care About Genetics? (more about the event)

Your Genes, Your Choices: Exploring the Issues Raised by Genetic Research by Catherine Baker: An easy-to-read description of the Human Genome Project, the science behind it, and the ethical, legal, and social issues that are raised by the project.
Public Acceptance of Evolution by Jon D. Miller, Eugenie C. Scott, Shinji Okamoto (Science Vol. 313, 11 August 2006): An argument that a lack of genetics literacy in the United States is one of the potential contributing factors to the low acceptance of the theory of evolution in this country.
Liz Lerman Audio Interview About "Ferocious Beauty: Genome" (Great Dance Weblog, 29 March 2006): Liz Lerman, founding artistic director of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and one of the speakers at the first Future Perfect event, talks about her exploration of genetics through dance and movement in her company's latest work.
Choreographer Liz Lerman on "Ferocious Beauty: Genome" (Museum of Contemporary Art, 20 September 2006): A statement by Liz Lerman about how she chose which themes to address in her work and how to portray them on stage.
Jon D. Miller's Presentation for "Why Should We Care About Genetics?" (Museum of Contemporary Art, 26 September 2006): There isa growing body of technical knowledge that citizen’s will be expected to know to partake in the democratic process. The American democratic tradition allows us, citizens, to influence public policy and the government will need to set and change many policies to account for the scientific advances of the genetic revolution. There is a substantial discrepancy between the technical needs of the average 18th century farmer and the modern 21st century city-dweller. Are we up to the challenge of educating ourselves and others? And how are we to do it? What happens to a democracy if citizens do not know enough to elect or censure our officials?
Rex L. Chisholm's Presentation for "Why Should We Care About Genetics?" (Museum of Contemporary Art, 26 September 2006): Differences in an individual’s genes can cause disease, prevent disease, and influence the effectiveness of medical treatment. Modern medicine has just begun to tap into the ability to tailor treatment regimens for each individual patient, but where should we stop? Or should we? Treating patients more effectively will save lives, but there are issues of privacy – what if your boss knew you were at high risk for a heart attack, what if your insurance knew? What if you could pick the gender of your children? Would you?

What Will We Eat? Genetics and Food (more about the event)

Science for African Food Security by Gordon Conway and Gary Toenniessen (Science Vol. 299, 21 February 2003): A case study of how Sub-Saharan African farmers can improve food security by intensifying production with genetic and agro-ecological technologies that require only small amounts of additional labor and capital.
GM Crops: Science, Politics and Communication by Charles J. Arntzen, Andy Coghlan, Brian Johnson, Jim Peacock, and Michael Rodemeyer (Nature Reviews, Genetics Vol. 4, October 2003): A discussion of the economics of and how best to use GM crops; the authors argue for more impartial communication, less propaganda and an effective regulatory regime that is based on a careful case-by-case consideration of GM technology.
The Ecological Risks and Benefits of Genetically Engineered Plants by L. L. Wolfenbarger and P. R. Phifer (Science Vol. 290, 15 December 2000): A review of existing scientific literature reveals that key experiments on both the environmental risks and benefits are lacking.
Economic impact of transgenic crops in developing countries by Terri Raney (Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2006, 17:174–178): This review of research on the ex post economic impacts of transgenic crops in developing countries finds the impact of the technology to be positive and potentially pro-poor but highly variable across time and space.
Letting the gene out of the bottle: the population genetics of genetically modified crops by Mark A. Chapman and John M. Burke (New Phytologist Tansley Reviews 28 January 2006): This review of research on the economic impacts of transgenic crops in developing countries finds the impact of the technology to be positive and potentially pro-poor but highly variable across time and space.
The Safety of Genetically Modified Foods Produced through Biotechnology (Society of Toxicology Position Paper, Toxicological Science Vol. 71, 2003): This paper argues that accepted methods of analytical, nutritional, and toxicological research have established that the level of safety to consumers of current genetically engineered foods is likely to be equivalent to that of traditional foods, although assessing safety may be more difficult in the future if genetic engineering projects cause more substantial and complex changes in a foodstuff.

How Free Are We? Genetics and Free Will (more about the event)

Genetics and Human Behaviour: the Ethical Context (Nuffield Council on Bioethics):A comprehensive look at how genetics affects our identity, with some policy recommendations.
Behavioral Genetics by Catherine Baker (American Association for the Advancement of Science and The Hastings Center): An introduction for non-scientists to how genes and environments interact through development to shape differences in mood, personality, and intelligence.
Are Your Genes To Blame? by Steven Pinker (Time Magazine, January 20, 2003): The author of The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature discusses why he believes that genetic discoveries do not relieve human beings of responsibility for their actions.
Genetics, Neurotransmitters, and Free Will by P. S. Greenspan (from Genetics and Criminal Behavior, Cambridge University Press 2001, David Wasserman and Robert Wachbroit eds.): A professor of Philosophy at University of Maryland discusses whether current accounts of the link between genes and criminal behavior would manage to undermine free will even apart from worries about determinism, since “the genetic component in criminal behavior…is widely agreed not to be…sufficient to determine behavior.”
Philosophy of Genetics: Free Will blog: The "Free Will" section of a Philosophy of Genetics blog, with entries on multiple related topics.

The Medium and the Message: Q&A with Priscilla Wald, PhD (GenomeLIFE Magazine Issue 3, Nov 2003): An interview with speaker Priscilla Wald, Associate Professor of English at Duke University's Center for the Study of Medical Ethics and the Humanities/Center for Genome Ethics, Law and Policy, including her views on how genetics and religion are presented as opposing forces in popular culture such as the movie GATTACA.
The Race For Genomics: From Epidemiology to "African Eve" by Priscilla Wald (version of an essay published as "Future Perfect: Genes, Grammar and Geography"in New Literary History 4.31, Autumn 2000): A discussion of how the public’s perception of genetic discoveries is molded by the language scientists and the media use to talk about them.
The Wonders of Genetics Breed a New Art by Steven Henry Madoff (New York Times 2002): An overview of the ways artists (particularly at the "Gene(sis): Contemporary Art Explores Human Genomics" at the University of Washington's Henry Art Gallery in Seattle) address issues of genetics and even use genetic science to create art.
A day in the life of…A Hollywood Science Advisor by Nerissa Hannick (BlueSci Magazine, Spring 2005): Speaker Wayne Grody, Professor of Medical Genetics and Molecular Pathology at UCLA's School of Medicine, discusses his work as a science consultant for the film and television industries.

What Would You Do? Genetics Testing and Life Decisions (more about the event)

SECOND OPINION; Genetic Test for Diabetes May Gauge Risk, but Is the Risk Worth Knowing? by Denise Grady ( New York Times , 2006): A daughter, grand-daughter, and great-grand-daughter of women with diabetes, Grady explores the hopes and goals of genetic testing with particular emphasis on Type 2 diabetes testing.
Peering Into the Future by Claudia Kalb (Newsweek , 2006): Kalb depicts several individuals' intensely personal decision to undergo genetic testing as well as seeking to decipher the ramifications of testing for family and in society.

How Did We Get Here From Mendel? The History of Genetics (more about the event)

Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics
Until April 1, 2007, Chicago's Field Museum hosts a temporary exhibition on Gregor Mendel. The exhibit includes the only known artifacts associated with Mendel and traces the development of genetic science from Mendel to the modern laboratory.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - The Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies
A website of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, with links and resources for the public, scholars, and students. Available from this site is information about events taking place at the museum, as well as online audio recordings of symposia and lectures. There are also opportunities for summer internships and research fellowships, and a guide to the museum's collections. Dr. Patricia Heberer, Historian with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, will be speaking during the IHC's event on March 14.
Interfaith Religious Leaders Comment on the Publication of the Human Genome
A compilation of comments by leaders and scholars of various religions on the publication of the human genome and its effects and related concerns. This compilation was created by Dr. Brent Waters, who will be speaking at the IHC's event on March 14th.

How Does Race Matter? Genetics and Race (more about the event)

Genetics and race: Researchers Explore Why Rates of Diseases Vary from One Population to Another by Byron Spice (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 7, 2002): An analysis of how genetic trends rather than race are responsible for varying rates of disease.
Sex and Race in the Long Shadow of the Human Genome Project by Roger N. Lancaster (Social Science Research Council): A historical review and commentary on the many consequences of the Human Genome Project for social and scientific constructions of sex, race, and identity.
Race - The Power of Illusion Background Readings (Public Broadcasting Service): An extensive listing of background readings for the PBS series "Race - The Power of Illusion." Especially helpful is the "Ten things everyone should know about race" which provides a summary of ten subjects critical to discussions of race.
What is Race? by Pam Moore and Pete Wilson (KRON 4): An easy-to-read article that investigates scientific research on the topics of race and social constructions of prejudice.
Race and Reification in Science by Dr. Troy Duster
Is Race Based Medicine Good For Us? By Dorothy Roberts (blackprof.com): An interesting discussion of race-based medicine.

Who Gets to Know? Genetics and Privacy (more about the event)

As the Use of Donor Sperm Increases, Secrecy Can Be a Health Hazard by Denise Grady (New York Times, June 6, 2006): How should questions of genetic privacy and information-sharing within families be addressed when the "family" includes—on a genetic level, at least—an anonymous sperm donor?
IBM to Put Genetic Data of Workers Off Limits by Steve Lohr (New York Times, October 10, 2005): Amidst growing concerns about the possibility of genetic discrimination should insurance companies or employers learn of an individual's predispositions, IBM announces plans to protect such data. Learn what issues the company considered and what factors influenced their decision.
DNA Testing, Banking, and Genetic Privacy by Patricia A. Roche and George J. Annas (NEJM 355;545-546, August 10, 2006): Confidentiality has long been a cornerstone of the patient-physician relationship and a way in which personal health information has been protected. However, with increasing use of biobanks and direct-to-consumer marketing of genetic testing through an agency other than a personal physician, genetic privacy and confidentiality must be considered in a new light.
Ethics: Constructing Ethical Guidelines for Biohistory by LB Andrews, N. Buenger, J. Bridge et al. (Science 2004 April 9; 304:215-216): Today's technological advances combined with the historial artifacts of yesterday present a unique but ethically complicated dilemma: how far do we go in probing the genetic material of historical figures? Is it okay to do tests on Einstein's brain, Beethoven's hair, or exhumed tissue from an individual whose identity was lost when he or she died? This article explores the questions and challenges of biohistory in the context of genetic privacy.

What is Fair? Genetics and Public Policy (more about the event)

Defining the Spectrum of Genome Policy by SB Haga and HF Willard (2006 Dec; 7:966-972): Achievements in the study of genetics and the so-called genome era have resulted from concerted policies supporting such research. However, policy support must also address the ethical, legal, and social concerns of genetics research. This article addresses current issues in genomics research as well as the policy implications.
Science, Politics, and Federal Advisory Committees by R. Steinbrook (2004 April 1;350:1454-60): The development of federal policy related to scientific issues requires the formation of advisory committees. Yet can the politics of decision-making also apply to such committees? Many would say the answer is yes, and Steinbrook explores the history and controversies concerning the intersection of science and policy.
The Intersection of Biotechnology and Pharmacogenomics: Health Policy Implications by KA Phillips (Health Aff (Millwood),2006 Sep-Oct; 25:1271-1280): Increased genetic knowledge has the potential to revolutionize the way in which physicians treat disease. However, such changes are not without implications in spheres outside that of medicine. This article discusses the implications for health policy management created by changes in biotechnology and the growing field of pharmacogenomics, or tailoring pharmacological treatment based on genetic information.
Genetics as a Tool to Improve Cancer Outcomes: Ethics and Policy by W. Burke and N Press (Nat Rev Cancer 2006 Jun; 6:476-82): Cancer is a disease with known genetic risk factors. As our ability to detect and understand these risks increases, both individual physicians and government policy-makers must work to develop the best practice and policy guidelines to ensure that such information is used in the most effective and ethical way.

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Keep Learning: Future Perfect: Conversations on the Meaning of the Genetics Revolution

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