For Undergraduates and Graduates
Barker 230
Wednesdays 2-4
Fieldwork Lab, some Fridays 2-4

In this social engagement course we will explore issues of structural inequality (economic, racial, global) as we think through emerging societal issues of ethics ushered in by genetic applications today. We will look at three areas of genome research broadly through case studies in 1) health and personal genomics, 2) ‘bioweather’ mapping of microbial pathogens in diverse global environments, and 3) government uses of forensic genomics to track and identify human beings for criminal and immigration law. We will engage scientists and ethicists working in each field, and will focus largely on how these technologies affect U.S. minorities, African populations and other people of the global South. Students will either continue or begin fieldwork of their own in the course of the semester, depending on level. Course fieldwork should result in either a research proposal or a preliminary paper. Enrollment limited to 12. (Students must attend first class to be enrolled.)