Communities

The Introduction program is a great place to start if you or your participants have never before engaged with personal genetics. We often describe this program as a “personal genetics sampler platter” that introduces participants to a variety of topics without going too deep.

This program introduces participants to personal genetics and the ethical implications of genetic technologies within three core areas:

1. Genetics & Health: The influence of genes and environment on human health and applications of genetic technologies for health purposes.
2. Ancestry & Identity: The process of DNA ancestry testing as well as benefits and risks of ancestry testing.
3. Privacy & Law Enforcement: How DNA is used in law enforcement, with case examples to explore the capabilities and limitations of forensic DNA technology.

By completing the program, participants will become aware of and reflect on personal questions and ethical challenges regarding genetic technology.

Activities:

• “Do now” exercises to get participants thinking and talking (15-20 minutes)
• Presentation (30 minutes)
• “Four corners” activity to explore various viewpoints on issues with no clear right or wrong answers (10-20 minutes)
• Q&A session (5-20 minutes)

Duration: 60-90 minutes*

Technological developments in genetics have enabled people to learn about their genetic ancestry and connect with relatives around the globe. This program explores the science and limitations of genetic testing for ancestry and family history purposes.

By completing this program, participants will examine the impact that direct-to-consumer ancestry tests can have on people’s understanding of their personal, familial, and cultural identities.

Activities:

• “Do now” exercises to get participants thinking and talking (15-20 minutes)
• Presentation with videos (20-30 minutes)
• Q&A session (5-20 minutes)
• Optional “ancestry testing company” activity (10-20 minutes)

Duration: 40-90 minutes*

The collection and analysis of DNA is an important tool in law enforcement. This program explores ethical questions about using genetic information to solve crimes. 

By completing this program, participants will explore how law enforcement officials might use genetics to keep people safe and solve crimes while providing appropriate safeguards and privacy protections.

NOTE: This program uses real-life (“true crime”) examples to illustrate the real impact of genetic technology and information sharing. Several examples involve violent crimes and may not be appropriate for all participants. If you would like to offer this program and are unsure about the sensitivity of its content, please contact a member of our team.

Activities:

• “Do now” exercises to get participants thinking and talking (5-10 minutes)
• Presentation (20-30 minutes)
• Scenarios (20 minutes)
• Q&A session (5-20 minutes)

Duration: 50-80 minutes*

A new generation of genetic tools has opened a pathway to engineering the world around us. In this program, we explore three applications of genetic engineering tools to alter our environment:

1. Agriculture: Reducing the toxicity of the common food crop, cassava.
2. Conservation: Altering the fitness of disease-carrying insects to protect endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper birds.
3. De-extinction: Reviving the long-extinct woolly mammoth to slow permafrost thawing.

These examples draw from current scientific research and environmental issues at the forefront of genetics and society. By completing the program, participants will contemplate scientific projects with ethical, ecological, and technical conundrums.

Activities:

• “Do now” exercises to get participants thinking and talking (15-20 minutes)
• Presentation (30 minutes)
• Group discussion (10-20 minutes)
• Q&A session (5-20 minutes)

Duration: 60-90 minutes*

Share Your Stance on Personal Genetics (SYS) is an opinion-sharing card game for curious explorers of science, policy, technology, and identity in the genomic age. In this program, players will consider the impact of genetics on our world by discussing some of today’s most pressing topics, such as climate change, biohacking, and data privacy. The game’s content focuses on five key areas:

1. Agriculture
2. Privacy
3. Environment
4. Ancestry
5. Human health

Players will make decisions, share candid opinions, and learn the unique perspectives of those exploring alongside them. SYS is best played in groups of 3+ people, ages 14+.

The game is not designed to require a dedicated facilitator; however, PGED can lead the game session or provide video training for interested game facilitators.

Activities:

• Gameplay (30-60 minutes)
• Optional reflection activity (5-20 minutes)

Duration: 30-80 minutes*