GENETİK VE KAMUSAL ALAN

Abstract

Genetic information has contributed significantly to our understanding of the history, diversity and origins of humas. In addition, geneticists have been in the forefront in deconstructing the racial categories by showing that most of the human genetic diversity is within groups. Unfortunately, genetic research is poorly communicated within the public sphere and there is a misconception that the genetic research studies the origins and genetic make-up of racial group. Furthermore, scientific terms like ‘genetics’, ‘DNA’, ‘molecular’ are used to legitimize the ethnocentric identities without referring to the actual process of scientific knowledge production. This situation is more problematic in Turkish public sphere, which is politically agitated and scientifically feeble environment. There have been numerous studies to addressing the rich cultural and genetic diversity through Anatolia. In spite of producing very important academic information about Anatolian history, these studies have failed to be communicated with the public. This lack of communication is not only confined the genetic information to a limited academic circle, but also, and much gravely, has laid the work ground for ethnocentric groups to distort the genetic information. The distortion of genetic information is particularly troubling in Turkey, where ethnocentric ideas have major discursive space in the public sphere, whereas the local identities have been ignored. Therefore, it is crucial for researchers, Turkish and foreigner alike to put extra effort to communicate their research with the Turkish public. The accurate and full explanation of the population genetic research to study populations, and to general public is an ethical necessity and should be maintained by academic watchdogs.