Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics

Genetics and Human Behaviour

Genetics and Human Behaviour - When does genetics play a role in understanding human behaviour? 2002

The IV Annual Swedish Symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society was held on May 27-28 in Sandhamn.

Nature, nurture and behavior — The perspective of a behavioral geneticist

Nancy Pedersen, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Psychology at Karolinska Institute, responsible for the Swedish Twin Registry.

Abstract of Keynote Lecture

During this presentation, the principles of behavioral genetic methods will be presented, as an introduction to a summary of results concerning a number of behavioral phenotypes. During the presentation, emphasis will be put on interpretation of results from behavioral genetic analyses, including common misconceptions. Finally, examples will be chosen to demonstrate that much more than simple questions concerning the relative importance of genetic factors can be asked of genetically informative data.

Organizers

The IVth annual Swedish symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society was arranged with financial support from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (ELSA program) and the Swedish Gene Technology Advisory Board.

More information:

Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics
Uppsala Science Park
SE-751 85 Uppsala
Fax +46 18 50 64 04

Josepine Fernow, Co-ordinator, josepine.fernow@crb.uu.se

Biomedicine, Ethics and Society
Keynote speakers

Nancy Pedersen, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Psychology at Karolinska Institute, responsible for the Swedish Twin Registry.

Patrick Bateson, Professor of Ethology at University of Cambridge, with a special interest in the processes that translate genetic and environmental influences into behavioral outcomes.

Troy Duster, Professor of Sociology at New York University, has studied the role of genetics in society extensively.

Biomedicine, Ethics and Society