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Jessica Cussins

About

Jessica Cussins is a researcher at the Center for Genetics and Society. She graduated from UC Berkeley, earning her B.A. with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. She has experience working for a non-profit organization in the Bay Area addressing the issue of access to scientific education in public schools. She is interested in the intersection of biotechnologies with social justice. She is currently attending the Harvard Kennedy school for public policy.

Recent Posts
Biotech Imagination
Eight insiders provide predictions about the next ten years in genetics and genomics, and not one wavers: “All are optimistic and predict enormous positive impact.” Should the rest of us be so optimistic?
Breaking from Our Eugenic Past
The recognition of this history is timely because advances in genetic and reproductive technologies will put increasingly more people in the position of having to wrestle with questions about the kind of child they want – and don’t want – to bring into the world.
Disability Will Never Be Immoral
Events of this summer, including the abandonment of Baby Gammy and controversial comments from Richard Dawkins, speak to the risk of conflating one type of information with a broader reality.
Making Sense of the Brain
As criticisms of the brain projects on both sides of the Atlantic ramp up, there are lessons that can be learned from the successes and failures of the Human Genome Project.
The Perfect 46: A Science Fiction Film About Our Near Future

A new science fiction film that is described as “a sort of prequel to Gattaca” highlights the rise and fall of a genetic startup that analyzes people’s genomes to assess their ability to produce disease-free children.

A new science fiction film that is described as “a sort of prequel to Gattaca” highlights the rise and fall of a genetic startup that analyzes people’s genomes to assess their ability to produce disease-free children.

Selling the Next False Hope?

Contrary to official reports, new evidence shows that “3-person IVF” could pose serious risks to women and children. So why are we being told that it’s a “not unsafe” option?

Contrary to official reports, new evidence shows that “3-person IVF” could pose serious risks to women and children. So why are we being told that it’s a “not unsafe” option?

Orphan Black: The Best Show You’ve Never Seen

What might our unregulated Brave New World look like? BBC America’s television series, Orphan Black by Canadian director John Fawcett, nails it.

What might our unregulated Brave New World look like? BBC America’s television series, Orphan Black by Canadian director John Fawcett, nails it.

Transcendence

The new film Transcendence won’t win you over with its dialogue or love scenes, but it’s a great springboard for pondering what quickly approaching developments in artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and regenerative medicine may actually mean for society.

The new film Transcendence won’t win you over with its dialogue or love scenes, but it’s a great springboard for pondering what quickly approaching developments in artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and regenerative medicine may actually mean for society.

Whole Genome Sequencing Only Halfway There

A new JAMA report has found that whole genome sequencing has large hurdles to overcome before it can be integrated into clinical care, but there’s another point to consider: Should it be there in the first place?

A new JAMA report has found that whole genome sequencing has large hurdles to overcome before it can be integrated into clinical care, but there’s another point to consider: Should it be there in the first place?

Love is in Your Genes

Missing that je ne sais quoi with someone new this Valentine’s Day? A Canada-based startup claims to have mastered the science behind that illusive chemistry.

Missing that je ne sais quoi with someone new this Valentine’s Day? A Canada-based startup claims to have mastered the science behind that illusive chemistry.