Why genetic research must be more diverse | Keolu Fox 

I loved this presentation. Not surprised that most of the genome studies are done on people of European descent. 🙄 Hopefully the future will be better.

But, but, but human beings are all exactly alike! Saying human beings have different genetics is "way-sist"

His voice is so soothing

When China and India start doing genetic research , they are going to study Chinese and Indian people , this is hardly shocking,research follows the money.

The fact that only 4% of genome researching occurs on people of non-European descent is very eye opening. I really liked how you said researchers could start conducting genome research on the indigenous populations ONLY if that is what they want. The portable genome sequencer you showed us is very innovative and could possibly save the lives of many people in different parts of the world. My only concern would be cost. How much would a device cost and could developing countries afford this? This video is saying everyone should have access to genome research, and I agree. However, is this practical or affordable for every country? Probably not right now, but it definitely could be in the future.

Why has Ted been burdened with this type of comment section?

Those that got a "Be PC, be Multicultural" message, and got offended by that, didn't understand a thing from this video. Genetic variety in studies is foundamental to see if what you are observing is valid for most genotypes. If yoiu only use one genotype (Like, European or Caucasian) you will be limited to that area. Those that understood "Races are real" also didn't understand sheit. This is a speech that invokes as many studies in as great variety of genotypes as possible, because of the (obvious) differences between cities, regions, states, continents, skin, hair, eye colour. There is nothing here claiming a supposed "Superiority/Inferiority", or "Segregation is good", or "Multiculturalism is bas", or "There is an objective difference in culture and behaviour between races", like most Racists claim. This is mere genetics and biology on various fields.

My god, so much ignorance and plain racist propaganda in these comments. Bottom line ...... genome research should 'overall' benefit all of mankind and not be selective. I'm ashamed that this is allowed to happen. Tell me which companies or organizations are at fault so I can veto them.

as someone who has just finished a psychology A level, YES!! thank you for bringing this to attention!!!

What? That 95%... It's shocking. Would be understandable if people of ''european descent'' counted as at least 60% of world's population. Of course, it's still in RELATIVELY early stages so most of the volunteers come from the places nearby the labs. This person's initiative, however is a progress in the correct direction and in good time.

Genes can be affected by environmental factors, especially when it goes down for thousands of years. I like this video, its true.

An issue in which diversity "in and of itself" makes total sense! Have to keep this in mind as a rare example.

Good to know God bless you for your abundant knowledge of the big islands

Beautiful message!

Every human on earth should have a part in the Genome Research.

I'm curious about the reasons why this wasn't able to be done earlier? Why the very last model was so much big and restrained.

This hits hard, I’m Mexican and just got into uwt where Im studying biomedical science.

Amazing!!! I hope he gets his dream! This would mean so much for 3/4ths of the world's population!

This video is eye opening about the discrimination that is present in genetic studies. Most of the people might not be aware about it. As per the video,

Awesome presentation!

Fantastic TedTalks!

The Human Genome Project, should be the human genome project. not the “Percentage that makes up most of the population” project. To provide better healthcare and advance the world as a whole, the human race needs to know how its genetic makeup works. There should be no room for segregation in the healthcare field, especially when talking on such a large population. America is considered the “Melting Pot” and else is usually compromised of decedents of elsewhere, typical European descendent. Therefore, it would make sense to do the first and most research on what makes up most of the population, which is what happens when 96% is covered in the HGP. It also explains why 95% of clinical trials would also cover people of European descent. Less than 1% of indigenous people are being looked at in clinical trials. This is a huge slap in the face considering we’ve taken almost everything with them, and still continue to demoralize them. Indigenousness people have a higher rate of disease and illness because of the close proximities they share, which should mean we focus on them and aid them in these problems. However, studies are still being done on genetics we already know. Healthcare should be about helping people, but how can we help people if they are continuously being ignored, or when they are being helped, it has an alternative meaning. There needs to be trust in healthcare and there isn’t in the indigenous peoples lives when the healthcare system only wants to help, to try and change their culture. Knowing the genetics and how they operate of people is a huge break through since some drugs metabolize differently depending on your genetic makeup. You could literally save or end a life with knowing their genetic makeup. Since there is a smaller population of indigenous people that means there would not be a need for as much money or resources to do the same type of project as the HGP to help advance society. However, as stated in the video we are making headway on this with new technology but it needs to be on the people’s terms. Healthcare and civilization should celebrate differences, not actively try to isolate and potential kill off part of it because there is significantly smaller portion of them in society. We are all part of the Human Race, so the Human Genome Project needs to focus on that, HUMANS.

Honestly when I read the title i was expecting some sjw race baiting BS. But this man does outline a real problem and a really useful solution. As for the disparity in sequencing, I am skeptical of that figure because that would mean there is very little research on it happening in the asian 1st world. The rest of the disparity could come from the fact that most of the nations doing the research are majority white nations, and that indigenous people have a deep distrust of the government.

I seriously can"t believe people are taking issue with this, what did he say that was so untrue. Educate yourselves!

"Going Native" is the eleventh episode of the sixteenth season of the American animated sitcom South Park. Watch it

this is john cena with hair

I can't fight the Feeling that the four percent already done had some let's say troubling results for a certain ideological Outlook and so People shy away from it.

The problem was that research was limited to one group of people, so he wants to solve the problem by limiting research to one group of people? It makes no sense. This is huge issue, we need to research genome of all populations and work together. I am pretty sure that the device will revolutionize the way scientists work, but there is no, and there should be no such thing as indigenous-scientist, or black-scientist, or white-scientist. Science should be done by everybody for everybody without limiting it to one group of the other. If there is an issue of distrust and bad history in some communities we should solve them, but it should not be done by dividing people and science into categories.

I would love that it would finally dispell this dumb notion that Europeans started that "all people are the same" I would love to see your research proving conclusively that there are inherent genetic differences between the ethnicities

"challenged their origin story" ... with evidence? oh noes!!

I support the idea.

Less safe? Yes, more dangerous? No. Humans are really genetically alike, so studying ebola on ethiopian patients, or spanish flu on european patients tend to work across ethnicity. Of course, it would help to diversify studies for everyone. Also there's a good reason why native hawaians are more afflicted by diabetes. They aren't as adapted to a poor modern diet as people of european, north african, middle eastern, east and south asia decent. Not to mention sedentary life style. On the other hand they gain more from a healthy diet and active lifestyle. And again the difference is not that big in genetics, it's just that the modern diet and sedentary lifestyle isn't good to anyone. But of course we can't control people's diet, so the best we can do is research medication and preventive medicine techniques that work of those communities.

So what happens if this information is "weaponized" to specifically target groups?

I'd be interested to see where he got his stats - I know it is highly biased to European descent (most initiatives in this field have been in countries defined in that manner) but I have seen this both in my years in pharma/clinical trials and now as a genomics bioinformaticist. However, there are massive global initiatives to work on this - like in Japan they are sequencing 200k genomes, etc. So it kind of is a big issue but there is big progress being made. We also see as much relation as diversity between ethnic groups, its not really clustered that way.. meaning I can be more genetically related to someone of a different ethnicity than they are to others in their ethnicity... its not that it isn't a concern, but it also is something everyone in this field recognizes and is already working on improving and he acts like it isn't at all. Also, those pocket sequencers aren't in any way suited for whole genome sequencing but that is another story. I'm all about having specific genetic studies of subgroups - it's very important, but to say they "need it the most" is kind of ridiculous. His argument for why they need it the most (namely, having higher rates of disease) could have just as much to do with lifestyle as genetics. Anyway, his spirit is definitely out for good but I think he is missing the mark on the reality of genomics

its not about whether certain genes are good or bad its about the people who decide what genes are considered good or bad. of course im not including genes that cause disease.

I did not know diabetes requires personal genetic information to be treated

5:35 "100 years later"... is he serious?

True

What a goal study hard 따라란

Be careful about talking about genetic differences between races, dude. You could lose your job.

What you describe is as wrong as your solution.

i heard of the hgp before but based on this video it seems like it has a sinister eugenics based agenda.

this is a non issue. Gene technology is advancing faster than the Moores Law in computer chips did. The Human Genome Project cost 3 Billion dollars and took 13 years, now you can fully sequence a human genome for 1000 dollars and it will take a few weeks. And its all the time becoming cheaper and faster.

My mom is awesome

it seems that the hgp isnt for universal benifit. things like a poor sick minority and a rich healthy elite.

I sense a lot of hate in his voice... That in not the way to spread an idea.

There's a rumor they used tainted needles to try and spread Hansen's

Who is paying for the research? Follow the money and insist the studies use as many native subjects as possible. It would benefit the studies anyway!

its a fact like calling a pug a pitbull they have difrent genetics

*Scientists must stick to the way of science. Not to the opinions of society.*

It´s not SJW crap if its true. We need a Term for the "real SJW`s" the ones that really do smt.

Okay I'm going to be the bad guy here and say something that may offend people. But I don't respect "indigenous knowledge." I don't think indigenous origin stories are true and genetic evidence shows they are not true and therefore they do not qualify as knowledge. Genetic research can flat out contradict so called "indigenous knowledge" and I'm more concerned about what's true than I am offending some some cherished personal beliefs. I don't care about offending the beliefs of majorities nor minorities (though of course it's likely to cost me less to offend a minority than a majority). All kinds of religions and ethnicities have their origin stories and they are bullshit. Now I understand that if you wish to work with indigenous people you have to gain their trust, but not at the cost of honesty, doing otherwise is patronizing. I can respect people without respecting their ideas.

Second ;)

In previous TED talks we learned that races and biological difference doesn't exists in humans. Strange... :p

OK educations

I feel like a I gain a bit of knowledge from TED videos and then lose all of it by reading the pure garbage that the comment section is. TED should avoid words which can have correlation to race in the titles, otherwise the all the closet racists get seem to get summoned.

this isnt just about race variation, its also about feeling valued and included in the world. im a liberal and i love this message. can people shut up now?

Fourth

First

world is unfair ..get away with it

Haoli-hate

his right not all race have on average same iq just like on average some race are shorter or taller.

Чувак, латинисты или негры тоже записываются в "европейцы", так как сейчас по соображениям толерантности расовые и этнические особенности в принципе исключаются

Could we stop moralizing science?

So he wants indigenous people to control their own research. It appears he wants to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, much as he accuses the present research to be done. I was a donor to a genome project. I assumed the research would include everything the researchers wanted to look into. I wanted an increase in knowledge. Seems that this man wants the scope of the knowledge controlled. Just like he says is now being done. To be blunt, I see him as racist. That is, he wants to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity. And is proud of it.

The reason that people of "European descent" are the most studied is due to the vast differences in the areas they live, Scotland is different from Australia. We know you just mean white people. The thing is, when we talk about genetics, larger groups are analyzed first, especially when they live in so many different areas to find out why those people are able to thrive in those areas. If the Asian people lived in many different areas, since they make up the most of the people on earth, they'd be the main focus of human genetic research.

This girl sound wierd