Sem02 (2025-2026) From Genetics to Gen-Ethics

Course details

• Practical information

  Academic year
  2025-2026

  Semester
  2

  Period
  4

  Day(s)
  Monday and Wednesday

  Time
  18:00 – 20:00
  11 February and 11 March 18:00 – 21:00

  Number of meetings
  8

  Dates of all meetings
  2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 February  
  2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18 March

  Location
  Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam

  Room
  To be announced

  Credits
  6

  Course Coordinator & lecturer

  • Dr. Wonuola Akingbuwa, department of biological psychology, VU Amsterdam 
  • Dr. Margot van de Weijer, department of psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC (location AMC

  A diverse selection of guest lecturers

  • Dr. Lianne de Vries, department of biological psychology, VU Amsterdam
  • Dr. Anil Ori, department of psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC (location AMC)
  • Dr. Abdel Abdellaoui, department of psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC (location AMC)
  • Dr. Dennis van ’t Ent, department of biological psychology, VU Amsterdam
  • Dr. Jorien Treur, department of psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC (location AMC)
  • Dr. Camiel van der Laan, department of Methodology and Statistics, University Utrecht.
  • Dr. Kavish Kohabir, department of human genetics, Amsterdam UMC (location VU)
  • Dr. Yayouk Willems, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Berlin, Germany

• Learning objectives

  • Theoretical knowledge: students will be introduced to the field of molecular genetics, including the role of DNA and genetics in traits and behaviours. Students will learn how molecular genetics techniques are used to identify genes that are linked to/associated with traits of interest.
  • Developing ethical considerations: Students will learn about research applications of genetic techniques to societally relevant traits. Importantly, students will consider the ethical issues surrounding the applications of genetic techniques in research, as well as potential societal and health implications
  • Critical thinking, formal reasoning: students will practice critical analyses of research procedures in journal club style presentations of peer reviewed papers, they will share their opinions in debates surrounding issues of ethics, and will practice presentation skills in the final session of the course, where they will present in a poster market similar to what is done at scientific conferences. This session will be attended by course tutors and other members of the Genetics Network Amsterdam

• Working formats & structure

  Methods

  • Weekly lectures
  • Practical/seminars
  • Debates
  • Discussion
  • Poster presentation

• Assessment methods

  The final assessment is made up out of two components:

  • Ethical statement assignment. In the beginning of each lecture, students are presented with an ethical statement (e.g., ‘embryo selection for disorders that are severe but do not necessarily shorten the lifespan should be possible’). We ask people to indicate their position of this statement twice; once at the beginning of the lecture, and then again at the end of the lecture once they have been taught more on that particular topic. After every lecture, they will be asked to upload a description of their initial and final position on canvas, with some reasoning on why their position did or did not change (40% of grade)
  • A poster presentation in the final session. The poster will need to be on one of the topics that was discussed during the different lectures. The poster market will be visited by researchers of the GENE Amsterdam network, but the grading will be done by the course coordinators. (60% of grade)

  Fraud and Plagiarism
  With regard to fraud and plagiarism, the VU Student Charter (Chapter 10) and the rules and regulations of the Examination Board of the faculty that offers the course, apply. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board will be informed.

• Attendance expectations

  • Be present at all lectures and work groups. Make sure to inform your teacher as soon as possible if you cannot attend a class due to special circumstances. If you are absent for two lectures and/or work groups, or over 15 % of all meetings, the teacher can assign an additional task or deny further participation.
  • Active participation in the seminars and class discussions plays a crucial role in student learning in the course, and in the student’s ability to reach the course objectives: attendance, preparation, and active in-class participation will therefore form part of the course assessment.

• Study materials

  • Lecture slides
  • Peer reviewed scientific papers
  • Relevant movies/documentaries (GATTACA, Three identical strangers)
  • Weekly ethical statements