Almost 200 people joined DoSER on December 13 for the 2012 Annual Holiday Lecture which explored the complex relationship between genes and human identity. Renowned molecular biologist and scholar of science and religion, Denis Alexander, described recent advances in developmental biology, genomics, epigenetics and behavioral genetics, including the flurry of publications describing results from the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) consortium, and discussed their implications for notions of human freedom and responsibility. Journalist Steve Paulson responded with a discussion of the similar issues raised by developments in the field of neuroscience.