
Jews and Genes
The idea that biology determines identity has been both catastrophic and empowering for Jews. The racial “science” of eugenics gained widespread influence in early 20th century Europe and America—and the Nazis carried it to malevolent extremes. But Jews have embraced the medical applications of modern genetics, participating in a successful global effort to prevent Tay-Sachs disease.
Add your voice to a conversation on ethics: if science gains the power to predict and alter human traits, where do we draw the line? Is this a return to the slippery slope of eugenics, or a path to better health and longevity?