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What to make of it? The (Re)emergence of a biological conceptualization of race in health disparities research

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  • Frank, Reanne

Abstract

The debate over the role of race/ethnicity in determining disease susceptibility has re-emerged since it was declared that race was arbitrary biological fiction more than 50 years ago. Partly due to advancements in the Human Genome Project and related technologies, the idea that race/ethnicity does have a genetic basis is enjoying a resurgence. A rise in the use of race in genetic studies has left many researchers who are committed to a social conceptualization of race at a loss regarding how to evaluate these developments. The commentary attempts to correct the problem by providing a critical review of the state of research on race, genetics and health. This review aims to bring social health disparities researchers up-to-date on developments in the genetic literature and to facilitate a more critical engagement of research that purports to find a genetic basis to racial disparities in health.

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  • Frank, Reanne, 2007. "What to make of it? The (Re)emergence of a biological conceptualization of race in health disparities research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1977-1983, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:64:y:2007:i:10:p:1977-1983
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Do, D. Phuong & Finch, Brian Karl & Basurto-Davila, Ricardo & Bird, Chloe & Escarce, Jose & Lurie, Nicole, 2008. "Does place explain racial health disparities? Quantifying the contribution of residential context to the Black/white health gap in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(8), pages 1258-1268, October.
    2. Kelaher, M. & Paul, Sheila & Lambert, Helen & Ahmad, Waqar & Paradies, Yin & Davey Smith, George, 2008. "Discrimination and health in an English study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(7), pages 1627-1636, April.
    3. Proctor, Alana & Krumeich, Anja & Meershoek, Agnes, 2011. "Making a difference: The construction of ethnicity in HIV and STI epidemiological research by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(11), pages 1838-1845, June.
    4. de Vries, Jantina & Jallow, Muminatou & Williams, Thomas N. & Kwiatkowski, Dominic & Parker, Michael & Fitzpatrick, Raymond, 2012. "Investigating the potential for ethnic group harm in collaborative genomics research in Africa: Is ethnic stigmatisation likely?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(8), pages 1400-1407.

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