Malinowska, Joanna Karolina and Serpico, Davide (2023) Epistemological Pitfalls in the Proxy Theory of Race: The Case of Genomics-Based Medicine. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. ISSN 1464-3537

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Abstract

In this article, we discuss epistemological limitations relating to the use of ethnoracial categories in biomedical research as devised by the Office of Management and Budget’s institutional guidelines. We argue that the obligation to use ethnoracial categories in genomics research should be abandoned. First, we outline how conceptual imprecision in the definition of ethnoracial categories can generate epistemic uncertainty in medical research and practice. Second, we focus on the use of ethnoracial categories in medical genetics, particularly genomics-based precision medicine, where ethnoracial identity is understood as a proxy for medically relevant differences among individuals. Notably, extensive criticisms have been made already against the genetic interpretation of races, but, nonetheless, the concept of race remains a key element of contemporary genomics. This motivates us to explore possible reasons why such criticisms may have been ineffective in redirecting attention to other (non-race-based) ways of controlling for human variability. We contend that popular arguments against the idea that human races have a genetic basis, though convincing in many respects, are not sufficient to exclude the pragmatic use of race and ethnicity as proxies for genetic variability related to complex phenotypes. Finally, we provide two further arguments to support the idea that ethnoracial categories are unlikely to provide meaningful insights into medical genetics, which implies that even the interpretation of race as a useful tool to stratify disease risk is unwarranted.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Malinowska, Joanna Karolina malinowska@amu.edu.pl 0000-0002-8330-5234 Serpico, Davide 0000-0003-3997-3056
Keywords:	race; ethnicity; ethnoracial categories; reference class; genomics; P-medicine
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics Specific Sciences > Medicine > Biomedical Ethics Specific Sciences > Medicine General Issues > Science and Policy
Depositing User:	Dr. Davide Serpico
Date Deposited:	22 Feb 2024 02:30
Last Modified:	22 Feb 2024 02:30
Item ID:	23124
Journal or Publication Title:	The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Official URL:	https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/7279...
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1086/727957
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics Specific Sciences > Medicine > Biomedical Ethics Specific Sciences > Medicine General Issues > Science and Policy
Date:	2023
ISSN:	1464-3537
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23124

Available Versions of this Item

• Epistemological Pitfalls in the Proxy Theory of Race: The Case of Genomics-Based Medicine. (deposited 24 Nov 2023 02:17)
  • Epistemological Pitfalls in the Proxy Theory of Race: The Case of Genomics-Based Medicine. (deposited 29 Jan 2024 16:21)
    • Epistemological Pitfalls in the Proxy Theory of Race: The Case of Genomics-Based Medicine. (deposited 22 Feb 2024 02:30) [Currently Displayed]

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