To the editor:

Thanks to the Hall Center for the Humanities and Hall Family Foundation for sponsoring the excellent lecture by Siddhartha Mukherjee at the Lied Center on Sept. 26. Mukherjee, a researcher, doctor, Pulitzer Prizewinning author and gifted storyteller, presented an enthralling overview of genes — the most basic instructions in each cell that make us who we are. He compared the complete set of instructions, the human genome, to 66 full sets of the Encyclopedia Britannica. His take-home message was that in the future, it will become increasingly routine to know the details of this information — the words on the pages of the encyclopedia — for each of us. Based on this information, it is possible to predict the odds that a person will have a particular malady or even grow to a specific height. Remarkably, we are even gaining the ability to manipulate this genetic information through gene-editing technology.

This burgeoning genetic knowledge and ability to manipulate the genome leads to questions. How does health insurance work when complete genetic information is known for each of us? Under what circumstances is it acceptable to alter this genetic information? How does genetic knowledge alter our understanding of identity and temperament?

I was most struck by Mukherjee’s parting message: The expansion of genetics is happening, accompanied by vast ethical, social, moral and economic considerations. To fully participate in these future dialogues, we each need to understand the basic concepts and vocabulary of genetics.

Should you choose to join the discussion, check out Mukherjee’s latest book. Or ask one of the current KU biology majors or any of the tens of thousands of KU biology alumni. They have the education necessary to explain everything you need to know to navigate this uncertain and thrilling future.