Controversy Surrounds Genetic Studies on Social Outcomes

A study published last year analyzed the DNA and education data of 3 million individuals with European ancestry. It found that the resulting genetic scores could predict up to 15% of a person's highest level of education, a factor almost as influential as the combined educational levels of their parents. The study, along with similar research into genetic links to social outcomes like income and intelligence, has raised concerns about potential misuse of this information by racists. A new report from an expert panel addresses this concern, recommending that scientists and funders avoid conducting comparative studies until scientific uncertainties can be resolved. In the US, major federally funded biobanks generally do not permit non-medical research with their data, but experts are divided on whether such studies should ever be conducted. Some argue that they will never be ethically justifiable.

According to Michelle Meyer, an ethicist at Geisinger and co-principal investigator of a diverse working group consisting of scientists, bioethicists, and historians, there are members who believe that no type of group comparison research will ever be acceptable from a risk-benefit perspective. However, there are some panelists and external researchers who disagree, arguing that prohibiting such research would be a form of scientific censorship.

Since the mid-2000s, the availability of large collections of volunteers' DNA and health data has allowed geneticists to search for markers that are subtly associated with certain diseases or traits. By combining the effects of dozens or hundreds of these markers, geneticists can create "polygenic" scores that are highly predictive of whether an individual is at risk for developing conditions like heart disease or diabetes. Social and behavioral scientists have also used this data to study the genetic basis of traits like extroversion, sexual orientation, and educational attainment.

However, the researchers behind the large educational achievement study caution that such genetic links may not be as strong as they appear. For example, genes that influence a parent's parenting style can also indirectly affect their children's level of education, potentially adding to the effects of other genes that directly influence educational attainment.

Large genetic datasets have enabled scientists to develop "polygenic" scores that predict the likelihood of developing certain diseases or traits. While these scores have shown promise, researchers have cautioned that they can be influenced by a range of factors, including social and environmental ones. A new report by a diverse working group of scientists, bioethicists, and historians has addressed concerns about the potential misuse of these scores in studies that explore genetic links to social outcomes and behavioral traits. The report recommends that researchers and funders avoid comparative studies that could be misunderstood as race or ethnicity-based. However, some experts warn against a ban, arguing that capable researchers can conduct such studies with caution and nuance. While there are biobanks in other countries that allow genetic studies of behavioral traits, the two largest biobanks in the US restrict their data to health and medical research. The report suggests that adding educational attainment scores to biobanks could improve genetic predictions for health outcomes, but there are concerns that data restrictions could limit research that benefits people of African or Hispanic ancestry.

source: science.org 

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