There's a Gene for That? Genes & Society

Genetics has revolutionized the way we understand
who we are, and where we came from. Modern
genetics has opened the door to exciting and
controversial new pathways that can guide where
humanity might be going. This course begins with
the fundamentals of how genes store, use, and pass
on information to the next generation. With these
fundamentals are under our belts, we can shift our
focus to the impact of modern genetics on society.

The history of genetics has been stained by the
eugenics movement and efforts to "use science" to
support certain ideologies. We will look at how
modern genetic analyses, using the scientific
method, have challenged and disavowed the idea
that a biologically based concept of human race
exists. In doing so, we gained insight into a
prehistory of humans that had been recorded in our
genomes. Through a series of case studies, we will
investigate what genetics tell us about complex
behavior. We will look at the discovery and
problematic characterization of a single gene
(called MAOA) as a cause and thus potential
predictor of aggressive and violent behavior. The
story behind the MAOA gene is a story of how poor
scientific communication, combined with the
pseudoscience of eugenics was able to influence
the judicial system and ultimately required an
intervention by the Supreme Court. We will see how
powerful new techniques have shed light on the
genetics of sexual orientation and gender identity
and see how researchers have improved upon the way
they communicate this type of research to the
public. By contrasting different methodologies, we
will see how the "Nature versus Nurture" (genetic
versus environmental causes) debate has become
more nuanced. We will explore how scientists,
sometimes willingly and at times unwittingly
engage in conversations about the ethics of
scientific discoveries as we explore molecular
technologies that have revolutionized areas as
diverse as agriculture, medicine, and law
enforcement.

As a Level-100 Special Topics course, you will
participate in weekly writing workshops related to
the course material. This will help you to develop
the skills needed to become a more confident and
effective writer during your time at CalArts and
beyond.