BIOMG 1290 - Personal Genomics and Medicine: Why Should You Care About What’s in Your Genes

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grade only.

Preference given to freshman and sophomores.

C. F. Aquadro and S. Wells.

Do you have allergies to milk or wheat? Curious about your family ancestry? Does a relative suffer from a genetic disease, and you wonder if you might also be at risk? How will medicine be impacted by DNA testing? How will your own future, your quality of life, your decisions regarding children be impacted? What are the ethical, legal, and social challenges we all face as this genetic technology becomes rapidly available to anyone with as little as $99 and a saliva sample? This course is not just for those interested in science, it is a topic we all need to have a basic understanding of to ensure we are prepared for what is rapidly becoming part of all of our futures.