Today, once marginal far-right political parties are supported by a growing proportion of the electorate. Some far-right figures insist that foreigners are and will always remain fundamentally different from natives; others do not hesitate to describe them as belonging to inferior races. Many far-right parties also prescribe gender roles according to traditional norms. Meanwhile, on what may seem like a different planet, scientists study how genes impact human beings.
The misuse and distortion of genetic science by white supremacists during the 20th century made genetic essentialism, the belief that genes can accurately predict complex behaviors and traits, a foundation of Western thinking. Today, essentialist assumptions remain embedded in US laws, policies, and cultural artifacts. To grow up in America is to be surrounded by many implicit and explicit messages that suggest genetic essentialism is ontologically accurate and to hear very few messages suggesting otherwise.
The shooting in Buffalo that resulted in the deaths of ten Black Americans is one of many in a series of tragedies that have resulted from systemic racism. We condemn white supremacy and the misuse of genetic research as justification for the violence against people of color. These tragic acts of terrorism not only impact the victims’ families, friends and communities but impact us all. We condemn the ongoing propagation of eugenic thinking and the weaponization of genetic research.
Despite some fundamental disagreements about the risks versus the potential benefits of social and behavioral genomics, the interdisciplinary group of researchers behind the new ‘FAQs on Human Genomic Studies’ (FoGS) repository agree that socially responsible research and research communication are important, especially in social and behavioral genomics.
Project Narrative This proposal seeks to investigate the ethical, social, and policy implications of a new kind of genetic information currently available to the public: polygenic scores for educational attainment (EA-PGS).
Genomics, Human Behavior, and Social Outcomes • October 12, 2021
This is the first in a series "Genomics in Society: New Developments, New Questions: Discussions with Journalists" hosted by Hastings Center, in partnership with the Center for ELSI Resources & Analysis (CERA) of four online discussions to inform journalists about the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of new research in genomics; discuss story ideas on genomics and its ELSI issues; and connect journalists and ELSI experts and resources.