California's genetic education
Geneticist Jasper Rine reflects on a controversial gene-testing programme.
Jasper Rine hopes that his students will learn "good judgement, informed by facts".Paul Sakuma/AP PhotoAn ethical storm hit the University of California, Berkeley, earlier this year after it invited more than 5,000 incoming students to receive a personal genetic analysis of three genes associated with how they metabolize lactose, alcohol and folic acid.
Privacy fears led to a public outcry and a bill in the California legislature to block the programme. That effort failed, but the California Department of Public Health has since ruled that federal law prohibits the university from giving students