AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion

News & Events: Workshop

AAAS Workshop on Behavioral Genetics
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