The Genome Revolution & Its Impact on Society
The Human Genome Project is a remarkable achievement for science and for society as a whole. It has dramatically increased our knowledge of genetics, heredity, and biology; it suggests wonderful possibilities for medicine, health and other benefits for mankind. At the same time, this knowledge is having an important, yet sometimes unsettling, impact on wide-ranging aspects of our society. The goal of this cluster is to explore the "Genome Revolution" in its many forms and help you begin to understand the social, cultural, and scientific meaning of genomic advances and the questions such advances pose for our collective future. Each of the courses in the cluster will explore the theme from a different perspective, with the result that you will be exposed to the complexity of the subject and will develop an enhanced understanding of the issues that we face as a society and as individuals. This cluster is designed for students with widely varied interests, ranging from humanities students with little science background, to potential science majors who hope to understand the scientific and social implications of their future work.
Program Director: Hunt Willard, PhD