Biopolitical Times

The Center for Genetics and Society blog highlights the latest developments in the social, political, and ethical implications of human biotechnologies, with contributions from staff, fellows, consultants, and guest authors.

a protester holds up a sign saying "keep abortion legal"

How Will the Dobbs Decision Affect Assisted Reproduction?

By Emma McDonald | 07.15.2022

^{photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash}

The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade, will have devastating effects on reproductive healthcare – something we are already seeing in states that moved to restrict abortion in the wake of the ruling. State laws banning abortion may also ban or limit access to reproductive technologies, including IVF, in addition to increasing surveillance and criminalization of healthcare providers and pregnant women and people.

Already, physicians, geneticists...

U.S. Federal

Threat, Promise, and the Need for Regulation: AI Is Here

By Pete Shanks | 06.23.2022

Biopolitical Times

^{"Artificial Intelligence & AI & Machine Learning"

by mikemacmarketing is licensed under CC BY 2.0.}

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been having a media moment. The Washington Post reported on June 11 that an eccentric Google engineer insists that the AI chatbot he helped develop has become sentient, which provoked a notable storm of responses; he was placed on paid administrative leave and hopes he won’t be fired. This particular story is fascinating but actually less...

U.S. Federal

Do Genes Shape our Politics?

By Pete Shanks | 06.09.2022

^{Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash}

I often think it's comical how Nature always does contrive
That every boy and every gal that’s born into the world alive
Is either a little Liberal or else a little Conservative!
— W.S...

Genomics