Thread by @sexchrlab

Dear #ASHG18, As human geneticists, we cannot "just focus on our research". We cannot pretend that our research isn't being misused. Doing so is being actively complicit with white supremacy/nationalism. Full stop. nytimes.com/2018/10/17/us/… (1/n)

I am floored of reporting there are no sessions discussing the context of human genetics research at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics. Especially because I know symposia on the topic were submitted. #ASHG18 (2/n)

Remember that "give-away" three years ago at ASHG? mathbionerd.blogspot.com/2015/10/im-not… The shirt that is only "funny" if you understand the dual meaning of DNA purification and "purity" of human lineages?

No? Oh yeah, because human geneticists are complicit with white supremacy.

#ASHG18

Sure, #NotAllHumanGeneticists. But... we built the field on the abuse and deceit of black and brown people. We conducted tests on other *human beings* without their consent, if we deemed them to be incompetent, or invaluable.

#ASHG18 (4/n)

We'd like to pretend, as a field, we've moved on, but we've just shifted to more insidious things, like collecting ancient samples without consent, ignoring tribal sovereignty, systematically focusing efforts in personalized medicine on white populations, and on #ASHG18 (5/n)

Yes, I just want to focus on my research! I want to spend all day lost in the wonder of how incredible genetics is. It's the coolest thing I've ever done. I love this stuff. But I won't pretend that what I publish doesn't have real-world consequences #ASHG18 (6/n)

As a human geneticist, I am responsible for putting my skin in the game to actively fight against the white nationalist rhetoric. I put my time, and my effort, into pushing back against narratives that misuse our work to prop up racist, eugenicist, bigoted claims. #ASHG18 (7/n)

If we continue to let human genetics be a prop for white supremacy, we won't have the contributions or make the advances we need as a field. We'll miss the people we need to recruit, we'll miss their ideas. We'll ask the wrong questions. We'll get things wrong. #ASHG18 (8/n)

Let's do our research. That's why we're here. For the love of science, for advancing human health, and for our understanding our shared history. AND make time to put our results in context, to ask the right Q's, to communicate with the public, and to push back. #ASHG18 (9/9)

Addendum - I know I mess up on public engagement and science communication - I'm still learning. I am open to correction, and doing better moving forward. (10/10)

If you're at @ASU, @asuSOLS and want to discuss this more, please come to our Bioethics Breakfast Club next week: Genetics in a Societal Context

You can learn more about the @asuSOLS Life Sciences Ethics Program and our upcoming events here: sols.asu.edu/student-life/l…