Is it ethical to buy a woman's oocytes or eggs? If so, what's a fair price? Moreover, should the eggs harvested from women with certain characteristics -- high SAT scores, athleticism, blonde hair -- command a premium?
These are some of the contentious questions that interest Aaron Levine, an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy. Levine's research focuses on the point where biotechnology intersects with public policy, and the accompanying ethical implications.
Among his research interests is assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization, egg donation, and sperm donation, and how these activities are or are not regulated in the U.S.
In one research project that received widespread attention in the mainstream media, Levine surveyed egg-donor solicitations published in more than 100 college newspapers.
"I found that the average SAT score of the university where the ads were placed to recruit donors was a very strong predictor of the amount of money offered," he said. "Young woman at Princeton or Harvard are offered a lot more to donate their eggs than are potential donors at the University of Massachusetts-Boston or Rutgers."
Levine's findings run counter to guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which set a limit of $5,000 -- up to $10,000 in special circumstances -- per donation, and prohibits soliciting eggs based on the donor's characteristics. Levine found an ad in the Brown University campus paper offering potential donors $50,000; a similar ad at Kennesaw State University offered $6,000.
"This suggests that the guidelines aren't being followed," said Levine. "If we as a society think limits or rules are important, we need a better system."
While the issues Levine studies typically are emotionally charged -- he also investigates the impact of public policy on human embryonic stem cell research -- the value of his research for policy makers and regulators is its objectivity.
"Anecdotes play a big role in policy debates," he explained, "but they don't necessarily represent the complexities or multiple perspectives of an issue."
What distinguishes Levine's research is that he looks for systematic data to perform his analysis of a particular question.
"For example, I survey scientists and study publications. I move around to different data sources that can help me answer the question at hand. Sometimes the key element of the research is figuring out what the appropriate data source is, and how to get my hands on it.
"I want my results to be based on evidence as much as possible," he continued, "so I'm working to provide a solid set of data that people who are interested in learning more and in having more informed views can draw on as they form their own opinions or develop options for government."
Ethical controversy can shape a new area of science if it deters funding or even causes scientists to avoid entering the field, he added. Levine acknowledged the value of arguing an issue's morality, but noted that emotional debate among people with intractable opinions overwhelms any other considerations, good or bad.
Levine also teaches classes in ethics. He realizes that his students can't be given hard-and-fast rules for dealing with every possible ethical situation they may encounter during their careers.
"A solid grounding in ethics teaches them how to think about ethics and how to address novel situations that might arise after they leave Georgia Tech."
Aaron D. Levine
Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy
- Ph.D., Princeton University, Public Affairs
- M.Phil., University of Cambridge, Biological Sciences
- B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Biology
Aaron D. Levine teaches and conducts research on science and technology policy. His research focuses on understanding how the policy environment influences the development of ethically-contentious new technologies, particularly in the life sciences. His work has been published or accepted for publication in a number of journals, including Nature Biotechnology, Public Administration Review and Politics, and the Life Sciences.
