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Wienroth M, Granja R, Lipphardt V, Nsiah Amoako E, McCartney C. Ethics as Lived Practice. Anticipatory Capacity and Ethical Decision-Making in Forensic Genetics. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1868. [PMID: 34946816 PMCID: PMC8701090 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Greater scrutiny and demands for innovation and increased productivity place pressures on scientists. Forensic genetics is advancing at a rapid pace but can only do so responsibly, usefully, and acceptably within ethical and legal boundaries. We argue that such boundaries require that forensic scientists embrace 'ethics as lived practice'. As a starting point, we critically discuss 'thin' ethics in forensic genetics, which lead to a myopic focus on procedures, and to seeing 'privacy' as the sole ethical concern and technology as a mere tool. To overcome 'thin' ethics in forensic genetics, we instead propose understanding ethics as an intrinsic part of the lived practice of a scientist. Therefore, we explore, within the context of three case studies of emerging forensic genetics technologies, ethical aspects of decision-making in forensic genetics research and in technology use. We discuss the creation, curation, and use of databases, and the need to engage with societal and policing contexts of forensic practice. We argue that open communication is a vital ethical aspect. Adoption of 'ethics as lived practice' supports the development of anticipatory capacity-empowering scientists to understand, and act within ethical and legal boundaries, incorporating the operational and societal impacts of their daily decisions, and making visible ethical decision making in scientific practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Wienroth
- Centre for Crime and Policing, Department of Social Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Rafaela Granja
- Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Veronika Lipphardt
- University College Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 79098 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Emmanuel Nsiah Amoako
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Carole McCartney
- Science & Justice Research Interest Group, Law School, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
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Emde AK, Phipps-Green A, Cadzow M, Gallagher CS, Major TJ, Merriman ME, Topless RK, Takei R, Dalbeth N, Murphy R, Stamp LK, de Zoysa J, Wilcox PL, Fox K, Wasik KA, Merriman TR, Castel SE. Mid-pass whole genome sequencing enables biomedical genetic studies of diverse populations. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:666. [PMID: 34719381 PMCID: PMC8559369 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07949-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Historically, geneticists have relied on genotyping arrays and imputation to study human genetic variation. However, an underrepresentation of diverse populations has resulted in arrays that poorly capture global genetic variation, and a lack of reference panels. This has contributed to deepening global health disparities. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) better captures genetic variation but remains prohibitively expensive. Thus, we explored WGS at "mid-pass" 1-7x coverage. RESULTS Here, we developed and benchmarked methods for mid-pass sequencing. When applied to a population without an existing genomic reference panel, 4x mid-pass performed consistently well across ethnicities, with high recall (98%) and precision (97.5%). CONCLUSION Compared to array data imputed into 1000 Genomes, mid-pass performed better across all metrics and identified novel population-specific variants with potential disease relevance. We hope our work will reduce financial barriers for geneticists from underrepresented populations to characterize their genomes prior to biomedical genetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Murray Cadzow
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Tanya J Major
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Ruth K Topless
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Riku Takei
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Nicola Dalbeth
- Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rinki Murphy
- Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lisa K Stamp
- University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Janak de Zoysa
- Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Philip L Wilcox
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Keolu Fox
- Departments of Anthropology and Global Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Tony R Merriman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Abstract
In this article, we argue that a careful examination of human microbiome science's relationship with race and racism is necessary to foster equitable social and ecological relations in the field. We point to the origins and evolution of the problematic use of race in microbiome literature by demonstrating the increased usage of race both explicitly and implicitly in and beyond the human microbiome sciences. We demonstrate how these uses limit the future of rigorous and just microbiome research. We conclude with an outline of alternative actionable ways to build a more effective, antiracist microbiome science.
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Chiang CWK. The Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Population Histories Into Genetic Studies for Diverse Populations: A Motivating Example From Native Hawaiians. Front Genet 2021; 12:643883. [PMID: 34646295 PMCID: PMC8503554 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.643883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a well-recognized need to include diverse populations in genetic studies, but several obstacles continue to be prohibitive, including (but are not limited to) the difficulty of recruiting individuals from diverse populations in large numbers and the lack of representation in available genomic references. These obstacles notwithstanding, studying multiple diverse populations would provide informative, population-specific insights. Using Native Hawaiians as an example of an understudied population with a unique evolutionary history, I will argue that by developing key genomic resources and integrating evolutionary thinking into genetic epidemiology, we will have the opportunity to efficiently advance our knowledge of the genetic risk factors, ameliorate health disparity, and improve healthcare in this underserved population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charleston W K Chiang
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Palmer S, Dearden PK, Mercier OR, King-Hunt A, Lester PJ. Gene drive and RNAi technologies: a bio-cultural review of next-generation tools for pest wasp management in New Zealand. J R Soc N Z 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1985531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Symon Palmer
- Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Peter K. Dearden
- Genomics Aotearoa, Bioprotection Research Centre, and Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ocean R. Mercier
- Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alan King-Hunt
- Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Phillip J. Lester
- School of Biology, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Credo J, Ingram JC. Perspective Developing Successful Collaborative Research Partnerships with AI/AN Communities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9089. [PMID: 34501677 PMCID: PMC8430766 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the United States, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people are frequently under- or misrepresented in research and health statistics. A principal reason for this disparity is the lack of collaborative partnerships between researchers and tribes. There are hesitations from both academic Western scientists and tribal communities to establish new partnerships due to differences in cultural and scientific understanding, from data ownership and privacy to dissemination and project expansion. An infamous example is the mishandling of samples collected from the Havasupai Tribe by Arizona State University (ASU) scientists, leading to a legal battle between the tribe and ASU and ending in a moratorium of research with the Havasupai people. This paper will explore three successful and positive collaborations with a large and small tribe, including how the partnerships were established and the outcomes of the collaboration. In addition, the paper will provide perspective of what needs to be addressed by Western scientists if productive collaborations with tribal groups are to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Credo
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jani C. Ingram
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA;
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Abstract
In recognition that evolutionary theory is critical for understanding modern human health, eLife is publishing a special issue on evolutionary medicine to showcase recent research in this growing and increasingly interdisciplinary field.
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Affiliation(s)
- George H Perry
- Departments of Anthropology and Biology, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
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Abstract
The collection and use of human genetic data raise important ethical questions about how to balance individual autonomy and privacy with the potential for public good. The proliferation of local, national, and international efforts to collect genetic data and create linkages to support large-scale initiatives in precision medicine and the learning health system creates new demands for broad data sharing that involve managing competing interests and careful consideration of what constitutes appropriate ethical trade-offs. This review describes these emerging ethical issues with a focus on approaches to consent and issues related to justice in the shifting genomic research ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Soo-Jin Lee
- Division of Ethics, Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
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Juengst ET. Anticipating the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genome research: An ongoing experiment. Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:3369-3376. [PMID: 34155808 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Dr. Victor McKusick was a founding member of the joint NIH-DOE working group that designed the federal effort to address the ethical, legal, and social implications of the US Human Genome Project in 1989. A key feature of this effort was its commitment to anticipating genomics-driven questions before they became urgent practical dilemmas, by complementing the scientific effort to map and sequence the human genome with projects by a wide range of social scientists, humanities scholars, legal experts, and public educators designed to equip society with the foresight required to optimize the public welfare benefits of new genomic information. This article describes the origins of that experiment and the model of anticipatory science policy that it produced, as one piece of Dr. McKusick's extraordinary intellectual legacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Juengst
- UNC Center for Bioethics, Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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61
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Roberts MC, Fohner AE, Landry L, Olstad DL, Smit AK, Turbitt E, Allen CG. Advancing precision public health using human genomics: examples from the field and future research opportunities. Genome Med 2021; 13:97. [PMID: 34074326 PMCID: PMC8168000 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00911-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Precision public health is a relatively new field that integrates components of precision medicine, such as human genomics research, with public health concepts to help improve population health. Despite interest in advancing precision public health initiatives using human genomics research, current and future opportunities in this emerging field remain largely undescribed. To that end, we provide examples of promising opportunities and current applications of genomics research within precision public health and outline future directions within five major domains of public health: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and health services, and social and behavioral science. To further extend applications of genomics within precision public health research, three key cross-cutting challenges will need to be addressed: developing policies that implement precision public health initiatives at multiple levels, improving data integration and developing more rigorous methodologies, and incorporating initiatives that address health equity. Realizing the potential to better integrate human genomics within precision public health will require transdisciplinary efforts that leverage the strengths of both precision medicine and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C. Roberts
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, 301 Pharmacy Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Alison E. Fohner
- Department of Epidemiology and Institute of Public Health Genetics, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Ave, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Latrice Landry
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital &The Division of Population Sciences in Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215-5450 USA
| | - Dana Lee Olstad
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada
| | - Amelia K. Smit
- Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, 119-143 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050 Australia
| | - Erin Turbitt
- Discipline of Genetic Counselling, The University of Technology Sydney, 100 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2008 Australia
| | - Caitlin G. Allen
- Department of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
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Tsosie KS, Yracheta JM, Kolopenuk JA, Geary J. We Have "Gifted" Enough: Indigenous Genomic Data Sovereignty in Precision Medicine. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2021; 21:72-75. [PMID: 33825628 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2021.1891347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Janis Geary
- University of Alberta
- Arizona State University
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63
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Lee SSJ. Response to Open Peer Commentaries: Distinguishing the "Gift" from "Donation" as a Path toward Reciprocity and Relational Ethics. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2021; 21:W1-W3. [PMID: 33856287 PMCID: PMC8634772 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2021.1905102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
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Hinde K, Amorim CEG, Brokaw AF, Burt N, Casillas MC, Chen A, Chestnut T, Connors PK, Dasari M, Ditelberg CF, Dietrick J, Drew J, Durgavich L, Easterling B, Henning C, Hilborn A, Karlsson EK, Kissel M, Kobylecky J, Krell J, Lee DN, Lesciotto KM, Lewton KL, Light JE, Martin J, Murphy A, Nickley W, Núñez-de la Mora A, Pellicer O, Pellicer V, Perry AM, Schuttler SG, Stone AC, Tanis B, Weber J, Wilson M, Willcocks E, Anderson CN. March Mammal Madness and the power of narrative in science outreach. eLife 2021; 10:e65066. [PMID: 33616530 PMCID: PMC7899649 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
March Mammal Madness is a science outreach project that, over the course of several weeks in March, reaches hundreds of thousands of people in the United States every year. We combine four approaches to science outreach - gamification, social media platforms, community event(s), and creative products - to run a simulated tournament in which 64 animals compete to become the tournament champion. While the encounters between the animals are hypothetical, the outcomes rely on empirical evidence from the scientific literature. Players select their favored combatants beforehand, and during the tournament scientists translate the academic literature into gripping "play-by-play" narration on social media. To date ~1100 scholarly works, covering almost 400 taxa, have been transformed into science stories. March Mammal Madness is most typically used by high-school educators teaching life sciences, and we estimate that our materials reached ~1% of high-school students in the United States in 2019. Here we document the intentional design, public engagement, and magnitude of reach of the project. We further explain how human psychological and cognitive adaptations for shared experiences, social learning, narrative, and imagery contribute to the widespread use of March Mammal Madness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Hinde
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, the Center for Evolution and Medicine, and the School of Sustainability, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Carlos Eduardo G Amorim
- Department of Biology, California State University NorthridgeNorthridgeUnited States
- Department of Computational Biology, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alyson F Brokaw
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
| | - Nicole Burt
- Department of Human Health and Evolutionary Medicine, Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryClevelandUnited States
| | | | - Albert Chen
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of BathBathUnited Kingdom
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Tara Chestnut
- National Park ServiceMount Rainier National ParkUnited States
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State UniversityCorvallisUnited States
| | - Patrice K Connors
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionUnited States
| | - Mauna Dasari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre DameNotre DameUnited States
| | | | | | - Josh Drew
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural HistorySyracuseUnited States
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseUnited States
| | - Lara Durgavich
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, Boston UniversityBostonUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts UniversityMedfordUnited States
| | | | | | - Anne Hilborn
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California RiversideRiversideUnited States
| | - Elinor K Karlsson
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeUnited States
| | - Marc Kissel
- Department of Anthropology, Appalachian State UniversityBooneUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre DameNotre DameUnited States
| | | | - Jason Krell
- Center for Science and Imagination, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Danielle N Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsvilleUnited States
| | - Kate M Lesciotto
- Department of Clinical Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsvilleUnited States
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State UniversityState CollegeUnited States
| | - Kristi L Lewton
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Mammalogy, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of MedicineBostonUnited States
| | - Jessica E Light
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology and Evolution, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
| | - Jessica Martin
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Asia Murphy
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkUnited States
| | - William Nickley
- Department of Design, The Ohio State UniversityColumbusUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Anali Maughan Perry
- Engagement & Learning Services, ASU Library, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | | | - Anne C Stone
- Human Evolution and Social Change, the Center for Evolution, and Medicine, and the Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Brian Tanis
- Department of Biology, Oregon State University-CascadesBendUnited States
| | - Jesse Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Melissa Wilson
- School of Life Sciences and the Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State UniversityTempeUnited States
| | - Emma Willcocks
- Department of Biology, Brown UniversityProvidenceUnited States
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Taparra K, Miller RC, Deville C. Navigating Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Cancer Disparities From a Cultural and Historical Perspective. JCO Oncol Pract 2021; 17:130-134. [PMID: 33497251 DOI: 10.1200/op.20.00831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kekoa Taparra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.,Transitional Year Program, Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI
| | - Robert C Miller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Curtiland Deville
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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66
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Wiley AS. Pearl lecture: Biological normalcy: A new framework for biocultural analysis of human population variation. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 33:e23563. [PMID: 33458923 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological normalcy is a new analytical framework for understanding the bi-directional relationships between the biology of populations and cultural norms. Populations are characterized by statistical distributions-that is, measures of central tendency and variance-for biological traits, and these co-exist in societies with ideas about what constitutes "normal" human bodies, that is, normative views about what bodies "should" be like. While statistical norms may carry no explicit evaluative weight, the question is how they are related to judgments about what is "normal" or "abnormal." In a 1947 paper, Margaret Mead recognized their potential relationship: "normal…may refer to the statistically usual in the culture-usually without any recognition that this is culturally relative-so that the statistically usual is identified with the basically human…." Despite her observations over 70 years ago, little has been done on this topic, yet such work promises new insights into the relationship between culture and biology, here described at the population level, rather than as individual genetic characteristics. Using examples of sex/gender, race/ethnicity, age, and my work on human variation in the ability to drink milk, I outline the ways in which statistical norms may: influence individuals' perceptions of what is "normal" (Mead's "basically human"); lead to normative judgments about what human biology "should" be ("ethno-biocentrism") that are reinforced by biases in discourse about human variation; and potentially feedback to mold the biological characteristics of a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Wiley
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Spero M Manson
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
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69
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Abstract
In the next decade, advances in our understanding of microbes and microbiomes will likely transform our way of life; providing novel therapeutics, alternate energy sources, and shaping fundamental doctrines of biology. We explore the promises herein, and tools required to achieve this progress. Notably, it is critical that we improve the inclusivity and diversity of our research agendas and teams, so that science benefits people of all identities and backgrounds.
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70
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Ben-Eghan C, Sun R, Hleap JS, Diaz-Papkovich A, Munter HM, Grant AV, Dupras C, Gravel S. Don't ignore genetic data from minority populations. Nature 2020; 585:184-186. [PMID: 32901124 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-020-02547-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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