tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post5862907551346833854..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: Direct-to-consumer racism?Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-31577368965321051962012-06-16T06:03:34.917-04:002012-06-16T06:03:34.917-04:00It's just what history shows happens. "G...It's just what history shows happens. "Genie's out of the bottle, nothing we can do about it, have to accept reality, just be careful..."<br /><br />Famous last words. It's a kind of acquiescence because trying to stop something that might turn very bad when it hasn't really (yet), is difficult, but it's the step by step way that really bad things build when they do.<br /><br />Will we have to go through another round, or will people behave themselves this time? Is education really any different of a factor now than it has ever been? I hope you're right.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-55090472655136729082012-06-15T21:29:51.412-04:002012-06-15T21:29:51.412-04:00I agree.I agree.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-21065974813298839162012-06-15T19:33:12.210-04:002012-06-15T19:33:12.210-04:00I think we need to accept that the genie is out of...I think we need to accept that the genie is out of the bottle and will not go back into the bottle. The best we can do is educate the world about the illusions of the genie and the potential abuse while using the genie. Also, that is scary that a politician in Hungary ran a campaign with a a focus on "racial purity," regardless of what he used for evidence of his "purity."James Goetzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02412501436355228925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-74645571899738075092012-06-15T08:50:06.504-04:002012-06-15T08:50:06.504-04:00I agree, except that I'd also say that there a...I agree, except that I'd also say that there are too many determinist scientists, both within Anthropology and without, and too many DTC companies selling results that aren't really ready for prime time that are an additional part of the problem.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-56107919928621432022012-06-15T08:42:45.622-04:002012-06-15T08:42:45.622-04:00Of course, it's not the information that's...Of course, it's not the information that's racist, it's what's done with it. Science can't be blamed for that -- and whether the Hungarian genetic testing knew what this test was going to be used for and should have refused to do it is a question that society has to answer (I know my own answer). But at the very least scientists need to think long and hard about what can be done with the fruits of their labor. This isn't a new issue or responsibility for science of course, and of course ethical issues in science overlap with ethical issues in society in general so science can't decide these questions alone. <br /><br />Unfortunately, genetic determinism has become an ideology , and equally unfortunately this is in part with support from scientists themselves. Far too often determinism is assumed, and goes way beyond the evidence. Here's where scientists need to be, but aren't, extra vigilant when popularizing -- and now selling -- their work.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-2374853524813262702012-06-15T08:41:01.311-04:002012-06-15T08:41:01.311-04:00The problem is not the availability of DTC testing...The problem is not the availability of DTC testing and personal genomics services. Genetic determinism and exceptionalism is unfortunately perpetuated by many bioethical articles, professional association position statements, and regulatory policies. The longer we neglect the scientific illiteracy problem (which includes genetic illiteracy), the worse off we all will be. Anthropologists have a very serious and urgent duty to educate everyone (particularly those off university campus!) on our rich human diversity and heritage (our very distant and more recent pasts alike). DNA ancestry tests coupled with education, in my opinion, can serve an important role in mitigating racism.JKWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09292737413026824514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-2874412460037306102012-06-15T08:28:44.319-04:002012-06-15T08:28:44.319-04:00I wish I could agree, Holly. The thunder might le...I wish I could agree, Holly. The thunder might lessen, but the problem would remain that then the information can be used in a discriminatory way by governments or other groups, doing it openly or otherwise.<br /><br />Whether it's worse than surname or skin color or neighborhood, or gender, etc., or other similar sorts of equivalent discrimination is a legitimate question.<br /><br />The potential for abuse, and countries' clear history of abuse, past and present, shows that it's a serious one. Maybe with no answers.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-88530538007074740122012-06-15T08:23:00.789-04:002012-06-15T08:23:00.789-04:00DTC for everyone would take all the thunder out of...DTC for everyone would take all the thunder out of the racist use and all the fear of determinism out as well. DTC for all... it's the only way.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.com