[Sci-tech-public] Conference Announcement: The Business of Race and Science, March 30-31, 2007

[Debbie Meinbresse]

Conference Announcement:  The Business of Race and Science
Date:  March 30-31, 2007
Place:  Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Website:  <http://web.mit.edu/csd>

Although humans share 99.5% of their genes, there may be much variation that is
interesting, even profitable, in the remaining 0.5%.  Companies now market
race-specific medications, vitamins, and cosmetics.  Competing laboratories
offer genetic analyses for ancestry and forensics.  Will this commodification
of racial science help the targeted populations and society at large?  Should
this commercialization of racial difference be endorsed or sanctioned?  Drawing
on history, anthropology, law, ethics, medicine, economics, and sociology, this
conference explores the promise and pitfalls of the new business of race and
science.

The conference is free and open to the public.  Conference organizers request
that you signal your intention to attend by preregistering.  Send an e-mail
with name, affiliation, and address to gdorr at mit.edu.  Additional information,
including the conference program, is available at <http://web.mit.edu/csd>



Debbie Meinbresse
STS Program, MIT
617-452-2390
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