The Economist on the Human-genome Project: Turning-point

Genomics may reveal that humans really are brothers and sisters under the skin. The species is young, so there has been little time for differences to evolve. Politically, that would be good news. It may turn out, however, that some differences both between and within groups are quite marked. If those differences are in sensitive traits like personality or intelligence, real trouble could ensue.

People must be prepared for this possibility, and ready to resist the excesses of racialism, nationalism and eugenics that some are bound to propose in response. That will not be easy. The liberal answer is to respect people as individuals, regardless of the genetic hand that they have been dealt. Genetic knowledge, however awkward, does not change that.

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Posted in * Culture-Watch, Anthropology, Ethics / Moral Theology, Health & Medicine, Science & Technology, Theology

One comment on “The Economist on the Human-genome Project: Turning-point

  1. MargaretG says:

    Yeah!!! From a Kiwi