CGS-authored
As a bid to connect science to the heartbeat of Minnesota's popular culture, the collection of DNA from hundreds of kids at this year's State Fair was a hit.
"DNA on a stick," said celebratory headlines in local newspapers and TV web sites. "Step right up and donate your DNA," proclaimed another report.
But was it ethical? Should kids be enticed to give over their individual genetic codes in exchange for tickets to fair rides — and, more central to the study, for the chance to further understanding of the relationship between genes and childhood growth and health?
Debate over that question is giving this study an unintended purpose. It has become a platform for exploring the latest ethical considerations about genetic research, considerations that can't be left to scientists alone.
Indeed, Logan Spector, the University of Minnesota pediatric cancer researcher who led this "Gopher Kids" study, said he welcomes this discussion.
"We are very committed to transparency and to building a relationship of trust with the Minnesota public and the fairgoers," Spector said in an interview with MinnPost. "I...