Genomic Politics: How the Revolution in Genomic Science Is Shaping American Society, Hochschild Jennifer

Political divisions around genomics do not follow the usual left-right ideological divides that dominate most of American politics. Through four controversial innovations resulting from genomic science--medicines for heart disease approved for use by only African-Americans, on the grounds of genetic
distinctiveness; use of DNA evidence in the criminal justice system; the search for ones roots through genetic ancestry; and the use of genetic tests in prenatal exams--Hochschild reveals how the phenomenon is polarizing America in novel ways. Advocates of genomic science argue that these
applications will make life better, while opponents point out the potential for misuse--from racial profiling to selecting out fetuses that gene tests show to have conditions like Down syndrome. Hochschilds central message is that the divide hinges on answers to two questions: How significant are
genetic factors in explaining human traits and behaviors? And what is the right balance between risk acceptance and risk avoidance for a society grappling with innovations arising from genomic science? Experts differ among themselves about who should make decisions about governing genomics uses,
and Americans as a whole trust almost no one to do so. A deeply researched and original analysis of the politics surrounding one of the signal issues of our times, this is essential reading for anyone interested in how the genetics revolution is shaping society.