The Gene Game – Katie Hasson, PhD, Writer, Researcher, Educator – The Political and Social Issues of Human Biotechnologies

Katie Hasson, PhD, writer, speaker, researcher, educator, talks about the political and social aspects of human genetic technologies.

Hasson has an active role with the Center for Genetics and Society (geneticsandsociety.org) as their Program Director on Genetic Justice. The Center for Genetics and Society is a public interest nonprofit social justice organization that seeks to ensure a fair and impartial future in which human genetic and reproductive technologies will benefit the collective good.

Hasson explains the social justice perspective they seek to cultivate through important public discourse regarding human biotechnologies. She discusses her role and her goal of bringing more important and diverse voices into the conversation regarding human gene editing. Hasson explains the current thoughts on human gene editing, and the uses of CRISPR (clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats). Hasson outlines the differences in the types of gene editing, discussing treatments for actual patients versus gene editing that could perhaps affect the traits of future generations, the latter of which tends to be the most controversial. She talks about some of the more surprising uses of gene editing that pushed the conversation forward rapidly, talking about some of the ethical and safety issues, as well as social concerns.

The science educator talks about the current technologies, and the risks, ethics, and benefits. Hasson explains the concept of normal, in regard to gene editing and the idea that some 'problems' may be edited out. In regard to correcting disease, she discusses the policy that could be implemented pertaining to gene editing uses. Continuing, she talks about some of the international commissions that have pulled together various voices from countries around the world to discuss and think about frameworks for utilizing some forms of gene editing.

Hasson holds a PhD in Sociology with a Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality from the prestigious University of California at Berkeley. She is a former Assistant Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at the University of Southern California.

Also, there is this link for a session about CRISPR Consensus: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL29W0b7TmEDzaW1VsLHndZtBpoOlB5CmI