Synthetic biology — which includes the development of fuels, organ tissue and tumor-destroying bacteria — became a focus of government and law enforcement agencies after 9/11 and the anthrax attacks that quickly followed it. The field’s “extraordinary promise,” a ... [More]

While issues relating to job creation and environmental impacts of building have dominated the debates around proposed lab sites for the much discussed LBNL lab expansion, scrutiny around the type of research actually to be conducted at the lab has been minimal at best. I am very con... [More]

In April of this year, U.C. Berkeley researchers announced the creation of the U. C. Berkeley Synthetic Biology Institute (SBI), which will ramp up efforts to “engineer” cells and biological systems. Part of its research will include experiments that insert manufactured stretches... [More]

Last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) instructed UC Berkeley to modify its “Bring Your Genes to Cal” program. From the beginning, UCB’s controversial plan to test the DNA of incoming freshman for three genes, brought into bold relief many of the compl... [More]

After months of debate, a ruling by the California Department of Public Health last week put an end to the most controversial part of a student DNA-testing project at the University of California at Berkeley, but now another debate has opened over how academic research will be affected. Some ... [More]

The University of California at Berkeley has been forced, by the California Department of Public Health, to abandon significant portions of its “Bring Your Genes to Cal” orientation program for incoming freshmen. The Department of Health informed UC Berkeley that major aspects of t... [More]

  The Council for Responsible Genetics is pleased that the University of California, Berkeley has decided to follow the law in the administration of their controversial “Bring Your Genes to Cal” freshman genetic testing program and not improperly use an unaccredited l... [More]

Two UC Berkeley professors Tuesday defended a controversial plan to perform genetic testing on incoming freshmen during a legislative hearing that also featured testimony from privacy experts and bioethicists blasting the plan. Lawmakers asked questions about the Bring Your Genes to Cal proje... [More]

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT HEARING TESTIMONY BERKELEY BRING YOUR GENES TO CAL FRESHMAN ORIENTATION PROGRAM TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2010       Chairman Block and Members of the Committee,   Thank you for inviting me to testify before you today.  My na... [More]

This is a reminder that there will be a public oversight hearing in the California State Legislature on the controversial  “Bring Your Genes to Cal” Freshman Orientation Program at the University of California, Berkeley.  “The students and taxpayers deserve to have ... [More]