6-9 January 2005
Miami, FL
Brought to you in conjunction with:
Society of Christian Ethics/Society of Jewish Ethics
Hardly a month goes by without a media report that researchers have discovered "a gene for" some complex human behavior or trait. One month it’s "intelligence," the next it’s "language" or "dyslexia" or "novelty seeking" or "shyness" or "homosexuality." But what does it really mean to say there is a link between genes and behavior? This workshop will be an introduction to the basic scientific ideas and methods of behavioral genetic research. It will consider both the contributions and limitations of behavioral genetics research. It will also explore the extent to which behavioral genetics raises ethical and social questions of fundamental concern, such as the meaning of free will and how to think about equality and justice.
Introduction to the Scientific Methodologies and Research Findings of Behavioral Genetics
Matt McGue, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota
 Listen to Dr. McGue's remarks
 See Dr. McGue's PowerPoint presentation
Case Studies in Behavioral Genetics
Jon Beckwith, M.D.
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School
Listen to Dr. Beckwith's remarks
See Dr. Beckwith's PowerPoint presentation
Panel Discussion-Reflections on the Issues Behavioral Genetics Raises for Religious Ethics
Sondra Wheeler, Ph.D.
Professor of Ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary
David Gushee, Ph.D.
Graves Professor of Moral Theology, Union University
Jeffrey Burack, M.D.
Assistant Adjunct Professor of Bioethics, UC Berkeley
Listen to the panel discussion
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