Continental ancestry categories fail to adequately capture human diversity. Newly assembled datasets, such as those referenced in Science, highlight that there are no distinct categories of genetic variability, only blurred continuities.

Posted in Excerpts/Quotes on 2022-05-13 00:59Z by Steven

Continental ancestry categories fail to adequately capture human diversity. Newly assembled datasets, such as those referenced in Science, highlight that there are no distinct categories of genetic variability, only blurred continuities. Recent high-profile studies in statistical genetics have shown that, in many cases where the use of population categories was previously considered necessary, categories can be avoided entirely. When basic and translational researchers can avoid categories, they should do so.

Anna C. F. Lewis, “Substituting genetic ancestry for race in research? Not so fast,” STAT: Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine, May 2, 2022. https://www.statnews.com/2022/05/02/substituting-genetic-ancestry-for-race-in-research-not-so-fast/.

Tags: , ,

Comments Off on Continental ancestry categories fail to adequately capture human diversity. Newly assembled datasets, such as those referenced in Science, highlight that there are no distinct categories of genetic variability, only blurred continuities.

Substituting genetic ancestry for race in research? Not so fast

Posted in Articles, Health/Medicine/Genetics, Media Archive on 2022-05-12 19:22Z by Steven

Substituting genetic ancestry for race in research? Not so fast

STAT: Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine
2022-05-02

Anna C. F. Lewis, Research Associate
Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Adobe

Race, widely used as a variable across biomedical research and medicine, is an appropriate proxy for racism — but not for anything biological. Proposals to use genetic ancestry instead of race are at risk of perpetuating the same problems.

Dozens of algorithms widely used in clinical care contain an adjustment factor for a patient’s race. When estimating kidney function, for example, different results are returned depending on whether the patient’s race is entered as “Black” or “non-Black,” though at least for kidney function the use of race is being challenged. Some medications have been approved only for those of certain self-identified racial groups. Meanwhile in research, the race of participants is routinely considered at almost every step of the research process — from recruitment to analysis to the interpretation of findings.

Race-based health disparities have reinvigorated the debate about whether these uses of race are appropriate, and their potential connection to racism…

Read the entire article here.

Tags: , ,

Comments Off on Substituting genetic ancestry for race in research? Not so fast