In studies involving human subjects who are potentially vulnerable in some way, do you see a difference in how researchers of different disciplines—say anthropologists versus geneticists— approach their ethical responsibilities? The interesting thing about sociology, anthropology, and the humanities and social sciences in general, is that the history of their field is a core part [...]
BERKELEY — As the popularity of take-home DNA kits to trace ancestry or calculate the risk for serious medical conditions grows, there is an increasingly critical need for federal oversight of "direct-to consumer" genetic testing, as well as of the use of DNA samples for research, according to researchers from the University of California, [...]
Saliva isn't generally regarded as a matchmaking tool, but a Montreal dating service is hoping to change that, one swab at a time. The company, Intermezzo, has paired up with a Swiss company to offer hopeful singles "genetic compatibility" tests. These involve dabbing the insides of their mouths and mailing the DNA-loaded swabs to a [...]
For many Americans, the potential to track one's DNA to a specific country, region or tribe with a take-home kit is highly alluring. But while the popularity of genetic ancestry testing is rising - particularly among African Americans - the technology is flawed and could spawn unwelcome societal consequences, according to researchers from several [...]