Ethics Retreat
2006 Summer Fellows at the Beaufort Ethics RetreatWith the availability of the full sequence of the human and other genomes, there are enormous opportunities and expectations for utilizing the sequence to benefit the public welfare. At the same time, however, the rapidly increasing pace of genome discovery and the prospect of widespread use of genomic information has raised awareness of a number of potentially troubling issues for society at large, in areas as diverse as individuals rights, genetic discrimination, the nature of humanity, intellectual property law, the meaning of normal variation, large scale data storage and analysis, and national health and science policy. Effective consideration of both the genome sciences and their implications for individuals and society requires that students and new scientists are not only highly trained in biomedical research, but also are knowledgeable about ethics, social sciences, and public policy, and thoughtful about the broader social and ethical implications of their research.
The Genome Ethics Retreat introduces students to issues that arise in doing, interpreting, and/or applying genomics research as well as to the broader questions about the impact of genome sciences on society. In 2008 it will be held over a 2 1/2 day stay at the Haw River State Park in Browns Summit, NC.
Topics addressed at the Genome Ethics Retreat included: Introduction to Bioethics; Responsible Conduct in the Research Lab; Reproductive Genetic/Genomic Technologies & Ethics; Eugenics - Then & Now; Genetic Privacy; Genetically Modified Crops; Race & Genomics.