What is Four Corners?
Four Corners is an interactive activity that encourages open discussion and critical thinking about different topics.
Traditionally, Four Corners is played in a physical space, where the corners of a room are labeled with opinions ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Participants are asked to move to the area of the room that best aligns with their opinion on a presented statement or question, and then discuss their reasons for choosing that area. Four Corners is often played in classrooms to encourage students to consider different ideas and use evidence to justify their opinions on a complex topic.
How to Play Four Corners ONLINE
Four Corners is a favorite PGED activity for sparking dialogue about personal genetics in classrooms and community spaces.
So, we created an online version for you to play at home! To get started, read the statements below and submit your responses to each question. You will immediately see how other players responded to the same statement. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers, and all responses are anonymous.
After submitting your response, click below the poll to read about why someone might agree or disagree with the statement. We encourage you to explore ideas that differ from your own.
There has been much debate over direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing since its market launch. One question people often raise is whether genetic testing kits should be considered medical devices, subject to the extensive rules and regulations that oversee the safety and quality of products that deliver health information.
Some people opposed to DTC testing argue that people should only learn about their DNA from a doctor or genetic counselor to ensure that the results are clearly explained. People who support DTC testing often find this argument paternalistic and believe that individuals have the right to learn about their DNA if they choose.
Even in the absence of medical interventions, some people may use this information to guide lifestyle changes and financial planning or may be spurred into advocacy or participation in research. Other people feel that concerns about discrimination and the emotional impact override the benefits of having information about potential health risks. The results of some studies indicate that learning about heightened genetic risk for disease does not appear to do long-term harm.
Some prospective parents who know they carry a genetic variant that would likely cause a life-limiting health condition or death in a child choose to pursue embryonic genetic testing called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to test their embryos for that variant. Any embryos that are free of the genetic variant for which they are being tested are then considered for transfer into the uterus.
Some people see this as a great advance that can reduce serious and deadly diseases, while others believe that any testing of embryos is unethical because it involves the removal of one or more cells from the embryo, in addition to discarding the embryos not selected for implantation. Another concern is that screening embryos will alter individual and societal acceptance of disability and human genetic variation.
Some prospective parents who know they carry a genetic variant that would likely cause a life-limiting health condition or death in a child choose to pursue embryonic genetic testing called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to test their embryos for that variant. Many clinics that offer preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for medical reasons, such as to avoid X-chromosome-linked diseases, also allow parents to select the sex of the child for social reasons. Some people are concerned about the possibility of analyzing and selecting fetal genomes for non-medical needs, such as athletic ability or perfect pitch.
Many physical, mental, and behavioral traits are challenging to predict or ensure based on DNA alone. This is because such traits are the result of an individual’s environment and lifestyle, as well as their genetic makeup. In addition, the genetic basis of many traits is highly complex and beyond our current understanding.
In addition to prohibiting health insurers from discriminating based on genetic information, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), passed by the United States Congress in 2008, prohibits employers from using genetic information to make hiring or firing decisions. Therefore, from a legal standpoint, the correct answer is simply no, employers cannot use genetic information in hiring, firing, or promotion decisions. However, this statement raises several interesting questions. Can anyone be a professional athlete? Pilot? Soldier?
There is an ongoing debate about how much parents should find out about their child’s DNA before age 18, when a child becomes a legal adult. While genetic testing can help predict, diagnose, or treat certain genetic conditions, it may also reveal genetic risks for conditions that can develop later in life or other information that might affect how a child is raised. Many people are concerned about the availability of this information before the child can give informed consent. Should testing be limited to only looking for a specific subset of genetic markers? If genome sequencing is performed, should only specific types of information be provided to parents?
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines regarding the reporting of incidental, or secondary, findings when performing genome sequencing recommend that doctors only inform patients about findings of specific genetic variants that are associated with serious disorders, and that have practical things that can be done to mitigate the associated risk. Patients are allowed to opt out of receiving these results during pre-testing counseling.
In Nigeria, it is common for young couples to be tested for and advised about their risk of carrying sickle cell trait. While dating, they learn whether they are heterozygous for the genetic variant that, when inherited from both parents, causes sickle cell disease. In some cases, this is cited as a couple’s reason for breaking up, despite an otherwise positive relationship. Read this CNN article for more about Nigeria’s sickle cell-informed dating practices.
Consider how the availability of genetic information might impact our social perceptions and how private or accessible we want our genetic information to be to potential partners. How does this inform our perceptions of health? What about our thoughts regarding the future of a relationship? In some cases, this information dictates a couple’s decisions about when or whether to have children.
Occasionally, when viewing the results of a DNA ancestry test, the testee learns surprising or painful information about their family history. For example, it might be revealed that their family members were enslaved at a point in history. Incestuous relationships and children born of them might also be identified. Family members might learn that some relatives are not biologically connected to them. Or, an unknown medical condition might become apparent in their lineage. For these reasons, and because the information learned might affect living relatives and their relationships, it’s important to be aware of these potential outcomes before taking a DNA ancestry test.
Thanks for playing Four Corners Online!
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