Shortcut to success? Negotiating genetic uniqueness in global biomedicine

TY - JOUR

T1 - Shortcut to success?

T2 - Negotiating genetic uniqueness in global biomedicine

AU - Tarkkala, Heta

AU - Tupasela, Aaro Mikael

PY - 2018/10/1

Y1 - 2018/10/1

N2 - Since the sequencing of the human genome, as well as the completion of the first Human Genome Diversity Project, the benefits of studying one human population over another has been an ongoing debate relating to the replicability of findings in other populations. The leveraging of specific populations into research markets has made headlines in cases such as deCode in Iceland, Quebec Founder Population, and Generation Scotland. In such cases, researchers and policy makers have used the genetic and historical uniqueness of their populations to attract scientific, commercial and political interest. In this article, we explore how in countries with population isolates, such as Finland, the researchers balance considerations relating to the generalization and replicability of findings in small yet unique research populations to global biomedical research interests. This highlights challenges related to forms of competition associated with genetics research markets, as well as what counts as the ‘right’ population for genetic research.

AB - Since the sequencing of the human genome, as well as the completion of the first Human Genome Diversity Project, the benefits of studying one human population over another has been an ongoing debate relating to the replicability of findings in other populations. The leveraging of specific populations into research markets has made headlines in cases such as deCode in Iceland, Quebec Founder Population, and Generation Scotland. In such cases, researchers and policy makers have used the genetic and historical uniqueness of their populations to attract scientific, commercial and political interest. In this article, we explore how in countries with population isolates, such as Finland, the researchers balance considerations relating to the generalization and replicability of findings in small yet unique research populations to global biomedical research interests. This highlights challenges related to forms of competition associated with genetics research markets, as well as what counts as the ‘right’ population for genetic research.

U2 - 10.1177/0306312718801165

DO - 10.1177/0306312718801165

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30230417

SN - 0306-3127

VL - 48

SP - 740

EP - 761

JO - Social Studies of Science

JF - Social Studies of Science

IS - 5

ER -