Genetics: Science and Society

ANTH 314/  BIOS 307

Spring 2006

 

Date

Topic

Readings

Jan 12

Introduction

 

Jan 17

Genetics before and after the Human Genome Project

Gilbert, W. 1992  "A vision of the Grail", in Kevles, The Code of Codes:  83–97

Strohman, R. 2001 "Human Genome Project in Crisis:  Where is the program for life"?     Download http://www.biotech-info.net/StrohmanMarch09.pdf

Jan 19

Cultural Frameworks: the power of the gene

Nelkin and Lindee, The Gene as Cultural Icon, Chs. 1, 3, 4

Rothman, B.  Genetic Maps and Human Imagination, pp. 13-41 (ER or Reserve)

 

Jan 24

Historical Frameworks: the gene concept

 

Jan 26

Thought, description, and  metaphor 

Lakoff and Johnson, 2003, Metaphors we Live By, pp. 1-51 (ER)

 

Jan 31             

Writing, talking, and reading about genes; Research Methods: using on-line resources, reading and writing

Nijhout, 1990  “Metaphors and the role of genes in development” (ER)

Avise, Evolving Genomic Metaphors: A New Look at the Language of    DNA Science 5 October 2001; 294: 86-87 (Fondren OL Science Magazine)

Kua, Reder and Grossel, 2004 Science in the News:  A Study of Reporting Genomics (Public Understanding of Science, online journal)

 

Feb 2

SPLIT CLASS

Anthropology stream: Anthropology of Western Societies

           (meets in Sewall 103)

Biology stream: Basic Molecular Biology (for non-bio majors – meets in regular lecture room)

Miner, 1958 Body Ritual Among the Nacirema http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html

 

handouts

Feb 7  

SPLIT CLASS

Anthropology stream:  Reading, Writing and Qualitative Research Methods (meets in Sewall 103)

Biology stream: Basic Molecular Biology (meets in regular lecture room)

 

Feb 9  

Regulating gene expression: Evo Devo and the importance of switches

Ridley, Ch. 1

Carroll, S. 2005  Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Chs. 2, 3, 5 (skim Ch. 4) (ER)

 

Feb  11

Saturday review session for Basic Molecular – all welcome.  2PM, BL 123

 

Feb 14

Newly discovered mechanisms affecting gene expression

Gibbs, The Unseen Genome:  Gems among the Junk, Scientific American, November 2003, 47–53 (Fondren OL Scientific American)

Gibbs, The Unseen Genome:  Beyond DNA, Scientific American, December 2003,  104-113 (Fondren OL Scientific American)

Ast, The alternative Genome, Scientific American, April 2005, 60–65 (Fondren OL Scientific American)

 

Feb 16

The Epigenome and Disease: Fetal Programming

 

PAPER ONE DUE  

Ills From the Womb, U.S. News and World Report, September 15, 2003:  42-44 (OL Lexis-Nexis)

Sandra Blakeslee, A Pregnant Mother’s Diet May Change the Genes Around, New York Times, Tuesday October 7, 2003 (OL Lexis-Nexis)

 

Feb 21

Guest Lecture: Dr. R. Waterland

Waterland and Jirtle 2004 “Early Nutrition, Epigenetic Changes at Transposons and Imprinted Genes, and Enhanced Susceptibility to Adult Chronic Diseases” Nutrition 20: 63-68 (ER)

"Supplements restore gene function via methylation" (Fondren OL Science vol 310, (16 December 2005: 1761)

 

Feb 23

Rethinking genes as essence: genes and environment shape human behavior

Ridley, Chs. 2, 5, 6

Nelkin & Lindee, pp. 79-126

 

Feb 28

Review

ORAL EXAM COMPLETE

 

Mar 2  

MIDTERM EXAM (in class)

 

Mar 7

Eugenics: defining the defective

Nelkin and Lindee, Ch. 2

http://www.geneticorigins.org/eugenics/

 

Mar 9

Eugenics: defining risk, controlling destiny

Nelkin & Lindee, pp. 127-199

 

Mar 14, 16         

 

MIDTERM RECESS

 

Mar 21            

Genes, environment, and intelligence

Ridley, Ch.3

 

Mar 23

Rethinking Genes as Destiny:  disease and the question of causation

Duncan 2002 “DNA as Destiny” (ER)

Ridley, Ch.4

Morange, M. 2001 "Genes that cause diseases" in The Misunderstood Gene:48–73 (ER)

 

Mar 28            

Guest Lecture: genetic counseling 

            

 

Mar 30

Discussion of Final Paper assignment Reproductive Testing I: 

Rapp, Testing the Woman, Testing the Fetus, Chs. 3, 5 and 6

 

Mar 31

Drop/ Pass-Fail designation deadline

 

Apr 4

Reproductive Testing II: 

PAPER TWO DUE (hints here)

Rapp, Testing the Woman, Testing the Fetus, Chs. 8-9

Waldschmidt, “Against Selection of Human Life:  People with Disabilities Oppose Genetic Counseling.”  Issues in Reproductive and Genetic Engineering 5(2): 155-167 (ER)

 

Apr 6

SPRING RECESS

 

Apr 1l

Genetic Medicine:  Patient Perspectives

Taussig, Rapp & Heath 2003 “Flexible Eugenics:  Technologies of the Self in the Age of Genetics” (ER)

Wexler, 2000 Chorea/graphing Chorea:  The Dancing Body of Huntington’s Disease (ER)

 

Apr 13

Genes and Disease I: 

Rothman, "A Tale of Two Diseases" in Genetic Maps and Human Imagination pp. 111-170  (ER)

 

Apr 18

Genes and Disease II: 

Marmot, 2004 “Status Syndrome:  How Your Social Standing Directly Affects Your Health and Life Expectancy". (ER)

 

Apr 20

Genetic Knowledge and Identity Politics

Parfitt and Egorova, 2005  “Genetics, History, and Identity:  The Case of the Bene Israel and the Lemba.”  Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 29: 19-224. (ER)

Kahn, 2005 “The Multiple Meanings of Jewish Genes.” Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 29 (ER)

Apr 25            

Conclusion and Wrap-up

 

May 4

May 10

FINAL PAPER DUE, graduating seniors

FINAL PAPER DUE, everyone else

(5 PM, hard copy delivered to the office)

 

 

                   

                   

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