Boundaries in Genetic Discourse: Racial & Ethnic Self-Identification

Abstract

The findings of the Human Genome Project and related initiatives provide a commentary on the origins of humans, the interrelatedness of human groups, and differences among sub-populations. These findings challenge ways that various ethnic and racial groups traditionally define themselves and their histories. This has led to some resistance among ethnic minority groups to these genetic research projects. To address these issues, the researchers conducted a random-sample survey concerning the relationship between racial/ethnic self-identification and attitudes toward genomics, religious importance, and attitudes toward science. Our data indicate that people who self-identify themselves into different racial and ethnic groups differ significantly in their attitudes toward genomics.