Linking Science and Social Issues

What are the capacious civic questions or problems addressed in the course?

The course is organized around this key question: How will advances in Human Genetics, particularly data generated by the Human Genome Project, impact society? Six years ago Human Genetics was taught as a traditional genetics "content" course to nursing students. However, the huge volume of information generated by the Human Genome Project has changed the course dramatically. In addition to a basic understanding of genetic principles, students are now also challenged with ethical, legal, moral, and social questions that new information and technologies have raised.

What basic science is covered in this course and how is it linked to public policy questions?

Scientific Principles and Topics	Linkage to Public Policy
History of the discipline (Genetics).	Positive and negative eugenics Laws against race mixing, sterilization laws, laws restricting immigration
Transfer of genetic material (Mendel and pedigrees).	Genetic privacy, workplace or military testing, families as research subjects.
Nature of genetic defect (molecular and chromosomal level).	Genetic testing, ethics of testing, in utero testing, selective reduction of multiples.
Sex determination.	Olympic sex testing; Do the parts (sex) make the person?
Gene mapping, technology, laboratory manipulation of genetic material.	Genetically modified foods, cloning of sheep or people, therapeutic or experimental use of fetal tissues, stem cells.
Human Genome Project	Is is worth the cost? Private vs. government efforts; The right to patent genetic information.
Genetics testing	Ethics of testing; The right to know or not to know; Why test if there is no therapy? Insurance coverage and legislation
Cancer; cell cycle regulation.	Genetics vs. environmental influences. Prophylactic treatment (mastectomy); Insurance coverage and costs.
Histocampatibility, transplantation, blood groups.	Transplants: who and how much. Organ-farming.
Genetic disease.	Treatment, gene therapy, costs, application, risks. Government control of gene therapy. Patenting of disease genes.

What strategies does the course use to both advance science education and foster civic engagement?

Following completion of this course, it is expected students will have the tools to make informed decisions regarding the impact of genetic advances on society as well as their own personal lives. The course is designed to introduce the student to the discipline of Human Genetics by interweaving classical genetics concepts with major genetic "issues" including genetic diversity, the human genome, biotechnology, and genetic disorders. It is hoped that through mastery of course content and completion of course activities, students will gain a critical appreciation of how scientists approach and solve problems. They will also have the tools to make informed decisions regarding the impact of genetic advances on society, as well a their own personal lives. Students currently enrolled in the course include majors in Biology, Nursing, English, Women's Studies, and the Exploratory Option.

Course activities and teaching tools have included the use of problems and case studies, poster presentations, term papers, position papers, and class discussions. In a recent semester the course centerpiece was a portfolio composed of ten journal entries, each one a synopsis and critique of an article  found in the popular press concerning genetic advances. Students must include in their synopsis 1) the genetic principles which apply to the news item and 2) an opinion of the application or value of the new information or technological advance to society. The portfolio also includes a reflective essay describing the ways in which student thinking, reading, and writing have improved, and how sharply their critical thinking skills have developed, as well as an evaluation of how their content learning has improved. In addition to mastering content, a major goal of this course is to encourage students to understand that although the science of genetics appears exact and technologically advanced, there are still many areas in which opinions and judgments must be formed as to the application and use of the scientific advances. A Human Genetics course offers the perfect subject matter through which to learn and evaluate the social consequences of science. My hope is that students in the course will gain an understanding of their responsibility and role in an informed community.