Biology as Religion

Genetic Code as Bible, Scientist as Priest, and Genetic Counselling the Confessional

Abstract

I recently attended a lecture at Acadia University given by a biologist from McGill University who had been sitting on the Canadian panel looking into reproductive technologies. During the lecture, he continually downplayed the risks associated with reproductive technologies and dismissed all critics of the new technology as bio-luddites. It was his belief that many Canadians were afraid of biotechnology because they had not been properly trained in the field. He repeatedly stated the need for early education in genetics for the Canadian population so that they would be better prepared to make decisions around the emerging biotechnologies. He called for "basic genetic principles" to be taught to children in grade four, ensuring that they would grow up with realistic notions of what the technology could accomplish.

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