Advances in genetic sequencing technology have dramatically reduced the cost of obtaining genomic data. As a result, personal genomic information is now available and utilized at an ever-increasing pace. As an anthropologist, the arrival of the “genomic age” raises important questions about how we approach and understand the topic of what it means to be human. Never before have individuals had such direct access to the raw data at the core of their own biology. This class will examine personal genomics from a biocultural anthropology perspective, simultaneously dealing with the question of what personal genomics has to offer and what consequences arise given the availability of genomic information. The important distinction between information and knowledge, uncertainty and determinism, and the ethical and legal apparatus around genomics will be examined through the use of genomic case studies focused on issues of health and ancestry.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Prerequisites: ANTH 102 or ANTH 214, or permission of the instructor.

Distribution Requirements: SBA - Social and Behavioral Analysis

Typical Periods Offered: Every three years

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Not Offered; Spring