PoliticsThat's the question being asked at The Personal Genome. Over at Genetic Future Dan "The Man" MacArthur notes the difficulties which might emerge if we start engaging in widespread embryo screening. So how exactly is the average American voter going to interpret the myriad of genes responsible for only a small fraction of phenotypic variation?
I'm not sure that genetic data adds much value for the body politic. I would want to know, but, I would also take SAT scores and college transcripts before I'd be interested in a candidate's genetic sequence. Our president elect has not, for example, released his academic record.
Comments
Are you up-to-date on the controversy about his releasing, or not, his birth certificate? He's clearly a remarkable chap, but does seem to have been underscrutinised.
Posted by: dearieme | November 20, 2008 4:27 AM
I don't see where knowing a candidate's genome would help. Most voters don't even know a given candidate's voting record which would seem much more relevant.
As for the birth certificate "controversy" I can't help but think there's not a controversy there.
Posted by: Donna B. | November 20, 2008 8:04 PM