This is the blog for GW students taking Human Evolutionary Genetics. This site is for posting interesting tidbits on: the patterns and processes of human genetic variation;human origins and migration; molecular adaptations to environment, lifestyle and disease; ancient and forensic DNA analyses; and genealogical reconstructions.

GWHEG figure

GWHEG figure

Friday, February 2, 2018

A dilemma in the Navajo Nation: Genetic privacy or advance medical treatment




The Navajo Nation is considering lifting its 15 year ban on genetic testing for its nation’s members as a way for its members to receive specialize cancer treatment based on their genetic information. The tribe originally banned the use of genetic testing for cancer and other health issues due to the fear of its members DNA being misused, similar to the misuse of genetic information that occurred with the Havasupai tribe of Arizona. The Havasupai tribe initially donated blood samples for diabetes research but later found that the samples were used for genetic studies of schizophrenia, migration and inbreeding. Some of the information uncovered by the misuse of their DNA challenged the Havasupai’s claim to their ancestral lands, which they feared could be used to take their traditional lands away. To prevent the misuse of its nation’s genetic information, the Navajo Nation is developing new policies that would allows the tribe to maintain ownership of its members’ DNA and restricting what research can be done.

To read the Nature coverage click here, for more information on the misuse of the Havasupai DNA click here.

-Kristen Tuosto

1 comment:

  1. Nice blog... Lot of information within this post! It is the little changes that produce the most significant changes. I found very important information on human genome testing. Thanks for sharing!

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