Law, Race, and Biotechnology: Toward a Biopolitical and Transdisciplinary Paradigm

Abstract

Law influences and is shaped by the emergence of race-based biotechnologies in the genomic age. This review examines how law and social science scholars have approached the role of legal regulation, theories, and norms in governing the definition and utility of race in gene-based technological innovation. I structure my discussion around four main themes: the institutional regulation of biotechnology research, commercial incentives for race-specific products, the paradoxes of inclusion and difference, and racial equality jurisprudence. My attention then turns to future directions for research in this field needed to attend to the serious political implications of increasing race consciousness in genomic research and technology at a time when color blindness and postracialism are gaining popularity. I argue for a biopolitical and transdisciplinary paradigm that is committed to our common humanity and to the need for social change. 149 Annu. Rev. Law. Soc. Sci. 2013.9:149-166. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org Access provided by McMaster University on 02/08/15. For personal use only.

Polygenic risk scores in the clinic: new perspectives needed on familiar ethical issues

“…In the risk variant context, the APOE ε4 risk allele for Alzheimer's disease has been reported to have different effects by self-reported race, leading some to suggest that use of this allele as a risk factor should "adjust for race" [86]. However, the use of "race as a biological variable" is controversial, out of concerns that this construct could detract from social determinants of health, reinforce racial stereotypes, and contribute to viewing race-a social construct-as predominantly based in biology [87,88]. Adjustments for race might be viewed as appropriate if they are tied to underlying genetic differences, suggesting the need for careful attention and research into the relationships between ancestry, race, racism, and the environment [89].…”

Why Sociology Matters to Race and Biosocial Science

“…The increasing public acceptance of genetic understandings of health and social life goes hand in hand with the marketization of identity (Bliss 2013) as a booming industry specializing in direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy has emerged (Bolnick et al 2007, Lee 2013, Roberts 2013. Recent social science literature, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, has examined consumers' experiences with genetic ancestry testing and the growing public anticipation and acceptance of genomic understandings of health and difference (Byrd & Ray 2015, Hochschild & Sen 2015, Morin-Chassé et al 2017, Nelson 2016, Panofsky & Donovan 2019, Phelan et al 2013, Roth & Ivemark 2018, Shim et al 2018, Yaylaci et al 2019.…”