Are you ready for the genetic revolution in education?

Recent findings in behavioral genetics and technological advances have the potential to alter education administration in ways that were inconceivable just a decade ago. Specifically, new understandings about the heritability of educational outcomes and the ability to calculate polygenic scores that predict likely student outcomes could change how educators identify students who are eligible for specific services. Russell Warne explains where the science currently stands, describes the benefits and possible drawbacks of using genetic technologies, and suggests policies for applying these technologies in schools.

A Case Study - NeuBase Therapeutics, Inc.

NeuBase is accelerating the genetic revolution by developing a new class of precision genetic medicines which can be designed to increase, decrease, or change gene function, as appropriate, to resolve genetic defects that drive disease.

How should we theorize about justice in the genomic era?

The sequencing of the human genome and advances in gene therapy and genomic editing, coupled with embryo selection techniques and a potential gerontological intervention, are some examples of the rapid technological advances of the “genetic revolution.” This article addresses the methodological issue of how we should theorize about justice in the genomic era. Invoking the methodology of non-ideal theory, I argue that theorizing about justice in the genomic era entails theorizing about (1) the new inequalities that the genetic revolution could exacerbate (e.g., genetic discrimination, disability-related injustices, and gender inequality), and (2) those inequalities that the genetic revolution could help us mitigate (e.g., the risks of disease in early and late life). By doing so, normative theorists can ensure that we develop an account of justice that takes seriously not only individual rights, equality of opportunity, the cultural and sociopolitical aspects of disability, and equality between the sexes, but also the potential health benefits (to both individuals and populations) of attending to the evolutionary causes of morbidity and disability.

Slow science for fast archaeology

This contribution contends that, with the recent genetic revolution, archaeology has reached a new scientism, a development that could lead to fewer opportunities in the epistemology of archaeology to think difference. Drawing from discussions in slow science and the related idea that scientific importance is a matter of concern rather than fact, the contribution proposes that archaeologists start to cultivate methods of deceleration. In particular, as a measure to mitigate the epistemological effects of archaeology’s methodological acceleration, the contribution suggests the publishing of personal hunches, failed hypotheses, and so forth in addition to research results, and a cultivation of historical awareness in order to better anticipate possible epistemological effects of pursuing conflicting research interests.

Legal Problems and Risks of Genetic Revolution: Genetic Information and Discrimination

In the article the author highlights that new technologies can significantly change both the life of each person and the development of human civilization as a whole. In this regard, it is necessary to draw attention to the fact of increasing importance of genetic information contained in human DNA in various areas of life of a human being and, due to this fact, the need for legal science to effectively protect the rights of an individual in order to prevent harm caused by the misuse of his genetic information.On the basis of the analysis of the problems arising in connection with the use of genetic information about a person, the author concludes that the legislation in this area needs to be improved also with a view to preventing discrimination against individuals on the basis of genome. By its legal nature, genetic information is an element of personal, family privacy of an individual and is included in the broader concept of privacy of the individual. Therefore it must be protected by law as an intangible benefit (Art. 150 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). However, the existing legal regulation is not able to take into account the specifics of genetic information and to provide effective protection against misappropriation and misuse of this information including protection against actions aimed at establishing restrictions on the basis of hereditary diseases and other characteristics in employment, conclusion of contracts of insurance, credit agreements, etc.