4 ms·

The research isn't specifically about group differences, or differences between populations anyway. That issue inevitably gets all the attention, but it's just

by simonh 5y ago

The research isn't specifically about group differences, or differences between populations anyway. That issue inevitably gets all the attention, but it's just one dimension. The vast majority of genetic differences between any two individuals have nothing to do with whatever arbitrary groups society categorises them with, and most genetic differences that do correlate with anything like race are basically cosmetic. Nevertheless genetic differences can make a huge difference to individuals. Many factors we uncontroversially categorise as disabilities have a genetic basis. In UK schools children categorised as on the Autism spectrum, or dyslexic receive additional support and consideration with regard to exam rules. I don't want to sideline into an argument about to what extent these specifically have a genetic basis, but broadly if we are going to agree that such factors are taken into account, it's flat out incoherent to then ignore or deny research into the origins, characteristics and influence of these factors.

Tenoke 5y ago
The backlash by progressives is usually specifically centered around the group differences part. And I don't buy that's the one that gets all the attention - all the negative one maybe, but most accepted and talked about genetic research isn't about that at all.
- Retric 5y ago
  Different ethnic groups have meaningful difference in various allergies and disease risks, but that doesn’t get attention from the general public. That stuff is basically all interesting but largely meaningless because it’s so binary. It doesn’t matter if your part of a group that’s 10x as likely to be lactose intolerant, you are either lactose intolerant or your not. Sure the dairy industry might care, but the only impact on individuals is what they can bring to very large family gatherings. Even where it is actually meaningful to an ethnic group, people rarely from a single ethnic group. A large chunk of African Americans are whiter genetically than their black.
  - Tenoke 5y ago
    For lactose intolerance maybe it doesn't matter. There are a lot of diesesases for which screening is not worth it if your risk is too low due to a high false negative compared to your risk (which is part of why we screen young people for a lot less).
  - esyir 5y ago
    If you might remember a somewhat recent controversy when they tried to remove race in the eGFR (kidney effectiveness, sorta) calculations. This was not done for performance reasons, or to find a better measure. The impetus was the idea that it was racist, never mind the performance or benefit to black patients.
inglor_cz 5y ago
"most genetic differences that do correlate with anything like race are basically cosmetic." But those that aren't cosmetic can matter a lot. For a noncontroversial example, sickle cell anemia. It absolutely makes sense to screen people of West African descent for sickle cell anemia.

by simonh 5y ago

Tenoke 5y ago

The backlash by progressives is usually specifically centered around the group differences part. And I don't buy that's the one that gets all the attention - all the negative one maybe, but most accepted and talked about genetic research isn't about that at all.

Retric 5y ago
Different ethnic groups have meaningful difference in various allergies and disease risks, but that doesn’t get attention from the general public. That stuff is basically all interesting but largely meaningless because it’s so binary. It doesn’t matter if your part of a group that’s 10x as likely to be lactose intolerant, you are either lactose intolerant or your not. Sure the dairy industry might care, but the only impact on individuals is what they can bring to very large family gatherings. Even where it is actually meaningful to an ethnic group, people rarely from a single ethnic group. A large chunk of African Americans are whiter genetically than their black.
- Tenoke 5y ago
  For lactose intolerance maybe it doesn't matter. There are a lot of diesesases for which screening is not worth it if your risk is too low due to a high false negative compared to your risk (which is part of why we screen young people for a lot less).
- esyir 5y ago
  If you might remember a somewhat recent controversy when they tried to remove race in the eGFR (kidney effectiveness, sorta) calculations. This was not done for performance reasons, or to find a better measure. The impetus was the idea that it was racist, never mind the performance or benefit to black patients.

inglor_cz 5y ago

"most genetic differences that do correlate with anything like race are basically cosmetic." But those that aren't cosmetic can matter a lot. For a noncontroversial example, sickle cell anemia. It absolutely makes sense to screen people of West African descent for sickle cell anemia.