Goucher College 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalogue 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Goucher College 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalogue PLEASE NOTE: This is an archived catalog. Programs are subject to change each academic year.

CPED 210 - The 23 in Me; The Science and Ethics of Genetic Testing (4 Cr.)


Over 25 million individuals have taken commercially available genetic tests, and millions more have taken similar tests administered by their physicians.  Historians and Anthropologists are incorporating genetic testing into their disciplines, and public policy makers are considering how genetic testing should be incorporated into immigration, insurance and law enforcement policy.  Many individuals are simply curious about their ancestry or traits that have been passed from their parents.  Others have serious concerns about inherited medical conditions, and genetic testing results are routinely used to make medical and family planning decisions.  Test results are used to solve crimes and to determine what individuals belong to particular ethnic groups.  We will learn the science behind genetic testing, examine the benefits and limitations of genetic testing, discuss examples of genetic testing that fall outside of traditional medical diagnostics, and explore the public policy implications of genetic testing, all through course readings and assignments.  We will also incorporate psychological and philosophical perspectives to consider the ethical implications of genetic testing for individuals, their families, and society. Students are limited to one CPE course per semester. Hiller.