The Ethics of Innovation: Disability, Technology, and Reproductive Justice – with Katie Hasson
By Keith Casebonne and Jodi Beckstine [with CGS' Katie Hasson],
Disability Deep Dive
| 07. 24. 2025
In this episode of Disability Deep Dive, hosts Keith and Jodi explore the complex interplay between disability science, technology, and ethics with guest Katie Hasson, Associate Director at the Center for Genetics and Society. The conversation delves into the ethical concerns surrounding genetic technologies, the medical vs. social model of disability, and the risk of eugenics in current bioethical practices. Katie also highlights the Center's work in ensuring social justice and equity in biotechnologies, and emphasizing the importance of including disabled voices in policy discussions. The episode concludes with a discussion on the documentary 'Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement,' which examines the impact of biotechnology on the disabled community.
Episode Transcript
Jodi Beckstine (00:01):
Want to talk and explore how disability science and ethics collide in today's tech-driven world? We're diving headfirst into the ethics of innovation on this episode of Disability Deep Dive.
Keith Casebonne (00:38):
Hello, listeners. We are really glad you're here. I'm Keith.
Jodi Beckstine (00:41):
And I'm Jody. Welcome back to Disability Deep Dive.
Keith Casebonne (00:45):
Today's episode is called the...
Related Articles
Cathy Tie seems to be good at starting businesses but not so dedicated to maintaining them. CGS, like many others, first heard of her thanks to Caiwei Chen and Antonio Regalado in MIT Technology Review, May 2025, as the partner (perhaps bride) of the notorious Chinese scientist He Jiankui, described in the headline as “China’s Frankenstein.” He prefers “Chinese Darwin.” She ran his Twitter account for a while, contributing such gems as:
Get in luddite, we’re going gene editing...
By Laura DeFrancesco, Nature Biotechnology | 03.17.2026
The first gene editors designed to fix genetic lesions in mutation-agnostic ways are poised to enter the clinic. Tessera Therapeutics and Alltrna, two Flagship Pioneering-funded companies, are gearing up to test novel genetic medicines in humans. Tessera received regulatory clearance...
By Darren Incorvaia, Fierce Biotech | 03.11.2026
A new method for safely inserting large chunks of DNA into genomes has now measured up in mice, potentially paving the way for the next generation of gene editing medicines.
The approach, which is described in a Nature paper...
By Carolyn Riley Chapman and Nirvan Bhatia, Hastings Bioethics Forum | 03.12.2026
Last year, researchers saved an infant named KJ from a life-threatening rare metabolic disorder using a customized gene editing therapy. This was the first time that an individualized gene therapy was used to treat a human patient, and it has...