Difference between revisions of "Resource:80680c32-bee0-4588-a2b0-7370a9f02228"

From The Embassy of Good Science
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{{Resource
 
{{Resource
 
|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Resource Type=Cases
|Title=The Thorny Ethics of Collecting Genetic Data From Indigenous People
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|Title=The Ethics of Collecting Genetic Data From Indigenous People
 
|Is About=This case is about the publication of the analyses of the DNA from 4 men in Namibia, which occured in 2009, and the consequenses of that publication. This is a factual case.
 
|Is About=This case is about the publication of the analyses of the DNA from 4 men in Namibia, which occured in 2009, and the consequenses of that publication. This is a factual case.
|Important Because=This case highlights the thorny ethics of collecting genetic data<ref>https://qz.com/1719314/the-thorny-ethics-of-collecting-genetic-data/</ref>.
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'''Key quote:'''
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"Without studies that look at each underrepresented population, genetic tests and therapies can’t be tailored to everyone. Still, (...) collecting that data could exploit the very people the programs intend to help."
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'''The core ethical problems include:'''
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* Respect: treating ethnicities as mere objects of scientific and/or commercial interest.
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* Consent:
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** A genome belongs to a whole population, not just to an individual, so obtaining individual consent for DNA analysis may not be sufficient.
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** Collected data may be reused for purposes which were not originally consented to.
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|Important Because=Historically, participants in genetic studies predominantly had European ancestry. To better understand how different groups have different medical challenges, it is important to chart the genomes of ethnic groups worldwide. Yet, the way in which this is done poses ethical challenges. <ref>https://qz.com/1719314/the-thorny-ethics-of-collecting-genetic-data/</ref>
 
<references />
 
<references />
|Important For=Researchers
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|Important For=Researchers; Policy makers
 
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{{Link
 
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{{Related To
 
{{Related To
|Related To Theme=Theme:D44fd22a-ed5d-4120-a78b-8881747131fd
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|Related To Theme=Theme:D44fd22a-ed5d-4120-a78b-8881747131fd;Theme:88b73549-fec0-4fb9-99f6-fe1055d6b76a;Theme:61d9a3f5-8f8b-4f6f-8363-fa53f959f131
 
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{{Tags
 
{{Tags
|Involves=Stephan C. Schuster
 
 
|Has Timepoint=2009
 
|Has Timepoint=2009
|Has Location=Namibia
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|Has Location=Namibia; United States
 
|Has Virtue And Value=Respect
 
|Has Virtue And Value=Respect
 
|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Consent; Research on Indigenous Groups
 
|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Consent; Research on Indigenous Groups
 
|Related To Research Area=Health biotechnology
 
|Related To Research Area=Health biotechnology
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 15:35, 9 August 2020

Cases

The Ethics of Collecting Genetic Data From Indigenous People

What is this about?

This case is about the publication of the analyses of the DNA from 4 men in Namibia, which occured in 2009, and the consequenses of that publication. This is a factual case.

Key quote:

"Without studies that look at each underrepresented population, genetic tests and therapies can’t be tailored to everyone. Still, (...) collecting that data could exploit the very people the programs intend to help."

The core ethical problems include:

  • Respect: treating ethnicities as mere objects of scientific and/or commercial interest.
  • Consent:
    • A genome belongs to a whole population, not just to an individual, so obtaining individual consent for DNA analysis may not be sufficient.
    • Collected data may be reused for purposes which were not originally consented to.

Why is this important?

Historically, participants in genetic studies predominantly had European ancestry. To better understand how different groups have different medical challenges, it is important to chart the genomes of ethnic groups worldwide. Yet, the way in which this is done poses ethical challenges. [1]

For whom is this important?

Other information

When
Virtues & Values
Good Practices & Misconduct
Research Area
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