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Ethical Boundaries for the Uses of Genomics
Grand Challenge III-4 and III-2
To help ensure the safe and effective use of genomic information and technology, it is important to explore how society views the ethical boundaries for the uses of genomics. For instance, which sets of values determine attitudes towards the appropriateness of applying genomics to such areas as reproductive genetic testing, 'genetic enhancement' and germline gene transfer? Research in this area explores how different individuals, cultures and religious traditions view the use of genomics.
Examples of possible research questions include:
- How are potentially controversial research areas defined and understood?
- How does this conceptualization shape values and attitudes?
- Are there aspects of these conceptuallizations and values that are common to all cultures and religious traditions?
- How are these issues viewed by individuals with disabilities?
- How are potential ethical boundaries for the application of genomics viewed by the research community?
- What might be the impact on society and the future of genomic research of the development of public policies that define and apply boundaries to the research enterprise?
- How might the availability and use of genetic testing for estimating ancestry affect cultural and religious concepts of identity and human origins? How will this affect attitudes about the ethical boundaries for the use of genomic and genetic information more broadly?
Last Reviewed: March 27, 2008
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