Sociology, molecular genetics and the perils and promises of sociogenomics CANCELLED

Within the last several years, there have been remarkable advances in genetic discoveries related to behaviour. This includes core sociological topics such as education, fertility and wellbeing.

This talk provides a brief introduction and overview of these findings and then relates them to potential extensions for sociologists. The talk also reflects on the broader applicability of current genetic findings across populations, time and space.

It concludes with some critical reflections on the application and interpretation of genetic data (particularly polygenic scores) for individual prediction of social and behavioural traits and ethical issues related to policy formation.

Melinda Mills (MBE, FBA) is Nuffield Professor of Sociology, University of Oxford and Nuffield College. She was previously the Editor of European Sociological Review and International Sociology. Her research spans an interdisciplinary range of topics at the intersection of demography, sociology, molecular genetics and statistics. She currently leads the ERC funded project SOCIOGENOME and was recently awarded £10 Million to start and Direct the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and an ERC Advanced Grant to examine chronotypes. She is on the ESRC Executive Council and Supervisory Board of the Dutch Science Council.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.