The Edge World Question Center’s question of the year in 2006 was: What is your dangerous idea? Here’s an extract of J. Craig Venter’s response:
Revealing the genetic basis of personality and behavior will create societal conflicts.
We attribute behaviors in other mammalian species to genes and genetics but when it comes to humans we seem to like the notion that we are all created equal, or that each child is a “blank slate”. As we obtain the sequences of more and more mammalian genomes including more human sequences, together with basic observations and some common sense, we will be forced to turn away from the politically correct interpretations, as our new genomic tool sets provide the means to allow us to begin to sort out the reality about nature or nurture. In other words, we are at the threshold of a realistic biology of humankind.
In this essay, Venter acknowledges the power of genetic determinism but doesn’t give into it. So while we acknowledge our genes, we can also reach beyond them with our hopes and dreams.
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