As scientists continue to learn more about the human genome,
they also uncover more questions about what it means to be human.
On Jan. 30, the UCLA community will get the chance to seek answers
to these questions with experts.
Authorities in biology, psychology, genetics and history will
present topics ranging from the evolution of gender to the latest
technologies in reproductive engineering at the third-annual
symposium titled “Gender and Genomics: Sex, Science and
Society.”
Some of the questions scheduled to be addressed at a symposium
hosted by the UCLA Center for Society and Genetics concern the
dividing line between male and female, how humans choose their
mates, and how they develop social and gender roles.
Scientists and researchers will share their opinions on the
relationship between gender and genetics, and their arguments may
play an important role in helping the UCLA community make sense of
the issues, organizers say.
One of Chancellor Albert Carnesale’s initiatives upon
first coming to UCLA was to establish a forum to facilitate the
discussion of the many ethical, legal and social questions that
emerged from the completion of the Human Genome Project, said Dr.
Edward McCabe, co-director of the Center for Society and
Genetics.
The Center for Society and Genetics was the result of this
vision. The goal was to create an interdisciplinary approach to the
study of the co-evolution of genetics society and engage in
scholarly discussion of the serious questions raised by
genetics.
One of the greatest concerns raised by genetic technology is who
should be allowed access to an individual’s genomic
information, McCabe said.
“I saw that a lot of the issues that we deal with in
genetics were a tension between what is in the best interest of
society ““ which is to know a lot of information about me
““ and what is in my best interest ““ which is to keep
that private and confidential,” McCabe said.
In an effort to promote a public dialogue about the co-evolution
of genetics and society, this year’s symposium will address
the issues of genetics and its effect on gender from a variety of
perspectives.
Eric Vilain, associate professor of human genetics at UCLA and
Pediatrics and Urology chief, will explore the issue of intersex
individuals, those who were born with a discrepancy in the various
aspects that determine sex ““ for example, a person born with
ambiguous genitalia ““ and how this example highlights the
complexity of defining gender.
“Gender is not a dichotomy; it’s a continuum,”
McCabe said. In this society, “You are either male or female.
But in fact as geneticists, we know that it is not always so cut
and dry.”
The social consequences of defining gender affect all aspects of
life ““ from medicine to psychology to politics.
“Defining gender has tremendous social impact as a large
number of states are discussing gender issues such as same-sex
marriages,” Vilain said.
Another speaker, Lee Silver, professor of molecular biology at
Princeton, will present new reproductive technologies that allow
parents “to greatly increase the likelihood of a girl or boy
baby” and will discuss the intense emotional responses that
have resulted from these procedures.
Silver says his interests lie in the broad question of what
makes us human. “Sexuality, gender and reproduction are
fundamental to an understanding of humanity,” Silver
said.
Other speakers include psychology professor Alice Eagly of
Northwestern University who will speak about how social roles
affect one’s preferences in mate selection. While Joan
Roughgarden, a professor of biological sciences at Stanford, will
be proposing a theory of social selection that could debunk
Darwin’s theory of sexual selection.
“I think that many students wonder about the enormously
powerful biological and social forces that drive them toward or
away from sexual expression with or without emotional
commitment,” Silver said.
The growing interest in the ethical issues raised by genetics
has led the Center of Society and Gender to look into starting a
minor that examines these issues.
Students of all disciplines are welcome to attend the event,
which will be held Sunday, Jan. 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in
Covel Commons.