European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

MULTICULTURAL AN NON-RACIST SCIENCE EDUCATION. NEW APPROACHES ... 317To integrate scientific frontiers in the Science curriculum toavoid racial prejudiceRecent reforms in the Science curriculum lack an analysis of therelevance of curricular contents, which must be reconsidered in thelight of the new scientific conquests. Although this has not been yetaccomplished, there is an urgent need to integrate these new topicsbecause several of them are challenging our view of the world and,most importantly, our view of humanity. Scientific biological frontiers,primarily from the field of genetics, provide us with some examples ofscientific relevance for the lives of our pupils:On the concept of “genome” and its relevanceHumans are much more than the mere product of their genome,but in a sense we are, both collectively and individually, defined by thegenome. The mapping, sequencing and analysis of the human genomeis therefore a fundamental advance in self-knowledge.“The human genome underlies the fundamental unity of allmembers of the human family, as well as the recognition of theirinherent dignity and diversity. In a symbolic sense, it is the heritage ofhumanity”. (Taken from the Universal Declaration on the HumanGenome and Human Rights).Immediately after the publication of the human genome sequence,many authors reflected upon its significance:“Humanity has been given a great gift. With the completion ofthe human genome sequence, we have received a powerful tool forunlocking the secrets of our genetic heritage and for finding ourplace among the other participants in the adventure of life” 6 .On the concept of “race” after the genomic sequenceIn only a few years, a scientific revolution has taken place: thesequencing of the human genome has indeed been considered ahallmark, the most important breakthrough, in the field of thebiological Sciences. “A new vision of ourselves”, has being said.6Jasny, B. R. y Kennedy, D. (2001). “The human genome”. Science magazine website: http://www.sciencemag.org/genome2001/1153.html