Center for Genetics and Society
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The Center for Genetics and Society is a nonprofit information and public affairs organization in Oakland, California, California, that encourages responsible use and effective societal governance of the new human genetic and reproductive technologies. CGS provides analysis and educational materials in addition to organizing conferences, workshops, and briefings. It is particularly critical of proposals for full-term human cloning and germline genetic modification, which it holds to be irresponsible uses of biological technologies.
As a progressive and pro-choice organization, CGS supports beneficent medical applications of reproductive and genetic technologies and opposes those applications that objectify and commodify human life or threaten to divide society. CGS supports the equitable provision of health technologies, women's health and reproductive rights, child protection, and disability rights. CGS’ key areas of concern include: stem cell research, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, race-based medicines, egg retrieval, designer babies, human cloning, sex selection, and genetic modification of humans.
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[edit] History
CGS was founded to advocate for socially responsible oversight and control of the new human biotechnologies. It grew out of a series of conversations and collaborations with key leaders in science, medicine, women's health, environmental justice, and human rights. This initial phase, conducted as a project of the Public Media Center in San Francisco, involved raising awareness of leaders in science, medicine, and civil society of these technologies’ potential impact and the need for regulation.
CGS formally began operations in October 2001. A primary focus has been to alert civil society constituencies to the challenges posed by the new human genetic technologies and assist them in building their capacity to engage in the discussions and debates about appropriate social governance in this arena. CGS has also worked to develop responsible policies in policy arenas. It was involved in the early stages of the United Nations effort to propose an international treaty prohibiting human reproductive cloning. It has been particularly active in the stem cell research debate in California, where it has played a lead role in holding the state’s new $3 billion stem cell research program accountable to the public interest.
[edit] Program areas
CGS has two program areas: Biotechnology Accountability and Gender, Justice, and Human Genetics.
The Biotechnology Accountability Program grew out of discussions that CGS initiated in mid-2004 with pro-choice and other progressive organizations in California about possible flaws and conflicts of interest in the now passed $3 billion Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. CGS has continued its efforts to highlight what the organization sees as the need for greater public oversight of biotechnology.
CGS’ Gender, Justice and Human Genetics Program was developed to inform women’s health, reproductive rights, disability rights, and racial justice groups about these technologies, what’s at stake, and available policy options.
