Online Workshop: Genome Editing and Eugenics

Genome editing is accelerating the pace of biological research and offers the potential to prevent and cure disease; create crops that are drought-tolerant, disease-resistant and more nutritious; and help us adapt to life on a warming planet. But it also raises concerns – especially in light of the history of eugenics. Eugenicists in the early 20th century sought to “improve” the human race through sterilization, immigration restriction and anti-miscegenation laws. Now that we are able to edit the human genome, how do we ensure this technology isn’t used as a new tool for eugenics? This workshop will focus on pgEd’s lessons related to the American eugenics movement and genome editing, including:

• Introduction to Personal Genetics
• Genetics, History, and the American Eugenics Movement
• Using Primary Sources to Examine the History of Eugenics
• Genome Editing and CRISPR
• Birth of CRISPR-edited Twins
• Genome Editing and the Environment

Please register here.