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THE POTENTIAL MISUSE OF GENETIC ANALYSES AND THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF ‘RACE’AND ‘ETHNICITY’
Author(s) -
MIRZA M.N.,
DUNGWORTH D.B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
oxford journal of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1468-0092
pISSN - 0262-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0092.1995.tb00068.x
Subject(s) - panacea (medicine) , ethnic group , race (biology) , archaeology , ancient dna , history , genealogy , sociology , geography , anthropology , demography , population , medicine , gender studies , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary The analysis of genetic material (such as DNA) has been attracting considerable attention for at least a decade. Recent years have seen the first application of genetic analysis to archaeological problems. In some circles DNA seems to be seen as a panacea for all ills. There is, however, little consideration of the methodological problems inherent in extrapolating from genetic information to ancient populations. In particular the assumption that genetic differences equal ethnic differences is challenged. The ethical implications for such research do not seem to have been addressed within the archaeological community.