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Osagie K Obasogie J.D., Ph.D.

About

Osagie K. Obasogie, J.D., Ph.D., is Senior Fellow at the Center for Genetics and Society. He is also an Associate Professor of Law at the University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco with a joint appointment at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. His writings have spanned both academic and public outlets, with journal articles in the Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics, and Trends in Pharmacological Sciences along with commentaries in Slate, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, and New Scientist among others. He contributes regularly to CGS’s blog Biopolitical Times and is the former director of CGS’s Project on Bioethics, Law, and Society. Obasogie received his B.A. with distinction from Yale University, his J.D. from Columbia Law School where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley where he was a fellow with the National Science Foundation.

Recent Posts
Race-Based Medicine
A new drug may lead us to at least partially revisit the debate about race-based medicine.
Honorary Degree For Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks, whose cancerous tumor cells become a cornerstone of modern biomedical research, has been granted a posthumous honorary degree by Morgan State University.
Familial Searching of DNA Databases Hits The Spotlight

The use of DNA technologies in criminal investigations is expanding at a breakneck pace. One of the most controversial applications is familial searching. Despite the controversy behind this approach, familial testing hit the national spotlight recently with reports that it led to the arrest of a Southern California serial killer known as the ‘Grim Sleeper.’

The use of DNA technologies in criminal investigations is expanding at a breakneck pace. One of the most controversial applications is familial searching. Despite the controversy behind this approach, familial testing hit the national spotlight recently with reports that it led to the arrest of a Southern California serial killer known as the ‘Grim Sleeper.’

Enhancement: From Steroids to Skin Tone

As during the 1998 baseball season, when Mark McGwire is in the news, Sammy Sosa isn't far behind. And neither are troubling questions about enhancement. Sosa shocked many a few weeks ago by appearing at the Latin Grammys with dramatically lighter skin.

As during the 1998 baseball season, when Mark McGwire is in the news, Sammy Sosa isn't far behind. And neither are troubling questions about enhancement. Sosa shocked many a few weeks ago by appearing at the Latin Grammys with dramatically lighter skin.

Celebrity Knock-Off Sperm?

California Cryobank recently launched its “Donor Look-A-Like” program, in which sperm donors are not only cataloged by typical traits such as hair or skin color, but which celebrity they most closely resemble.

California Cryobank recently launched its “Donor Look-A-Like” program, in which sperm donors are not only cataloged by typical traits such as hair or skin color, but which celebrity they most closely resemble.

Kiddie Gene Testing in China

China has a longstanding reputation for identifying children's talents at an early age in order to focus their training for future productivity. This effort may now be reaching new levels.

China has a longstanding reputation for identifying children's talents at an early age in order to focus their training for future productivity. This effort may now be reaching new levels.

Playing the "Gene Card?"

Despite often good intentions, human genetics is being used in a manner that may provide new justification for thinking about racial differences in biological terms—as if social categories of race reflect natural group differences. Some genetics research is being used to develop several commercial and forensic applications that may give new credibility to inaccurate biological understandings of racial difference—often stated with more certainty than is supported by the available evidence. This post, adapted from the report Playing the Gene Card? A Report on Race and Human Biotechnology examines the significant implications for racial minorities.

Despite often good intentions, human genetics is being used in a manner that may provide new justification for thinking about racial differences in biological terms—as if social categories of race reflect natural group differences. Some genetics research is being used to develop several commercial and forensic applications that may give new credibility to inaccurate biological understandings of racial difference—often stated with more certainty than is supported by the available evidence. This post, adapted from the report Playing the Gene Card? A Report on Race and Human Biotechnology examines the significant implications for racial minorities.