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HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
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Examines need for anthropological approach to study of human genetics, focusing on Human Genome Project.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Examines need for anthropological approach to study of human genetics, focusing on Human Genome Project.
Paper Introduction:
Genetics, Variation, and Anthropology
Introduction
For over a decade, researchers in the biological sciences have been collecting data on human genetics in the massive Human Genome Project and other smaller efforts. Scientists in other specialties have begun to examine this database in order to extend the genetic age to other disciplines. Anthropologists, in particular, are interested in human genetics because of what it can tell them about human variation. However, the sources of the data and the various collection methods are sometimes incompatible, and the sheer volume of data available can be overwhelming. Consequently, a new science called bioinformatics has been developed to deal with these questions. This paper assesses the need for an anthropological approach to the study of
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The examination of thebroader scope of human genetics, and consequently of human variation, aHuman Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) has been proposed by anthropologists(Weiss, the author of the article under review here, is a leader in thismovement), but no systematic effort has yet been undertaken. However,the sources of the data and the various collection methods are sometimesincompatible, and the sheer volume of data available can be overwhelming.Consequently, a new science called bioinformatics has been developed todeal with these questions. 11). As a consequence of these multiple efforts, there are hundreds ofgenetic databases available to researchers. For geneticists, variation is a tool used to identifyfunctional effects, but for an anthropologist variation is a concept ofinterest in itself (p. Specifically, the sample from which thehuman gene sequence is derived cannot in any way be called representativeof the diversity implicit in the human species. Discussion According to Weiss (1998), scientists are now in the Genetic Era,caused by "(a)n explosion of technological advances has enabled hundreds ofscientists around the world to collect more, and better, data on geneticvariation than has ever before been possible" (p. AnnualReview of Sociology 27:273-3 . There has never been an agreed-upon method for systematically sampling populations, nor for storing andreporting the data (p. Scientists in other specialties have begun toexamine this database in order to extend the genetic age to otherdisciplines. While the HGP has beenacclaimed as a success in the popular press, there are fundamental problemswith its methodological approach. 14).Anthropologists are uniquely situated to inform the debate on sampling fromethnic and racial populations, and Weiss encourages fellow anthropologiststo become educated and informed in the field of genetics in order to fullyparticipate in the next round of genetic science developments. By focusing on mapping out a basic,stereotyped human genome pattern, genetics ignores the historic findingthat variation in genes is the foundation of evolution. Reference Weiss, K. In the late197 s and early 198 s, new techniques were developed which allowedscientists to more closely examine the internal workings of genesthemselves, and research began to focus on populations rather than onfamilies (p. Coming to terms with human variation. Unfortunately, there are alsomultiple strategies for collecting data. 6). This wouldbe a good first step, but a similar encouragement to geneticists to becomemore educated about anthropology and the importance of variation would be agood second step. This paper assesses the need for ananthropological approach to the study of human genetics. Currently,this examination is accomplished by hundreds of separate research projectsthat are sampling other racial and ethnic groups. This led to the idea of the Human Genome Project, whichwould attempt to map the entire basic human genetic. Ultimately, anthropologists like Weiss would like to see a unificationof the HGP and the various HGDP projects (p. 1 - note: the pagenumbers cited in this paper are from a downloaded Internet version of thepaper and do not correspond to the journal pages). M. Weiss concludes that perhaps this presents the greatest opportunityfor anthropologists to inject themselves into the HGP (p. Efforts of HGDP proponents, therefore, nowfocus on creating a unified approach to the collection and analysis of thisdata in the new science of bioinformatics. Genetics, Variation, and Anthropology Introduction For over a decade, researchers in the biological sciences have beencollecting data on human genetics in the massive Human Genome Project andother smaller efforts. However, the HGPwould focus on a relatively small set of three-generation, European-derivedfamilies collected in Utah and France (p. Anthropologists, in particular, are interested in humangenetics because of what it can tell them about human variation. (1998). Until thegeneticists begin to examine the value of variation itself, Weiss concludesthat anthropologists using HGP data will be limited in their study areas.Summary Good science is dependent on proper methods. If the project is to moveforward and continue to be of scientific value, this deficiency must beaddressed. 2). 3). The study of human genetics began with investigations into the natureof inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.These studies began by looking at patterns within (p. 2). 13), but such a union ishindered by fundamental differences between geneticists andanthropologists.
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