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Race and Ethnicity: Understanding Difference in the Genome Era

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Genomics-Driven Healthcare

Abstract

The Human Genome Diversity Project and International Haplotype Map Project introduced a unique set of questions regarding race in genetics. Race and ethnicity are complex concepts, consisting of much more than a simple biological definition. Differences in drug metabolism and drug susceptibility among races seem to imply that race is biological, and thus treatment should vary. However, evidence shows that environmental factors may contribute more to health disparities than any genetic difference. Studies investigating the effects of race often use self-identification. Though this method is more efficient than individual tests, it leads to inaccuracies and gives credence to ideas of biological difference. Furthermore, the use of self-identified race encourages neglect of important environmental factors. Race-based pharmaceuticals reify biological difference while creating a niche market. Attempts to regulate the use of race in genomics research promise future scholarly debate on the roles of race and ethnicity in genetics.

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  1. College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida Health, Tampa, FL, USA

    Shannon Kelly & Yashwant Pathak

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    Yashwant Pathak

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Kelly, S., Pathak, Y. (2018). Race and Ethnicity: Understanding Difference in the Genome Era. In: Pathak, Y. (eds) Genomics-Driven Healthcare. Adis, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7506-3_5

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