Pacific Genes & Life Patents Book
For several years, indigenous groups have taken issue with scientists studying their DNA. When National Geographic began collecting DNA samples for The Genographic Project, the Maori of New Zealand along with Alaska natives feared that DNA evidence would invalidate their history and break family ties. Aroha Mead and Dr. Steven Ratuva have put together a volume of essays, entitled Pacific Genes & Life Patents, that examine how Pacific Indigenous communities have been affected by genetic research and products, and patents on life forms. The book is available for free online.
The editors and authors of Pacific Genes & Life Patents present articles, case studies, and other information which show that “outsiders” are predominantly interested in harvesting genetic information for profit without any regard for Pacific cultural values and norms.
From the Preface:
As a region, the Pacific has experienced more than its fare share of external experimental research that has resulted in the commodification and misappropriation of important components of their ancestral inheritance. For others, it might be difficult to understand how a plant could be regarded as a living ancestor, or that human blood retains its life spirit even after it has been collected for medical research and synthesized and isolated for specific DNA qualities. Such values are still very much a part of the daily lives and analysis of Pacific communities.
More at ABC Science Online, March 20, 2007
Tags: indigenous population, aboriginal, genetics, genome, dna, genes, biotechnology, aroha te pareake mead, steven ratuva
I found this posting as I was reading your other posting on the Genographic Project. As I am one of the authors of a couple of chapters within the Pacific Genes & Life Patents book I was curious to see what was posted here about the book. In case you are not aware, I wrote a critique of the Genographic Project in one of the chapters of the book. I’m completely opposed the Project because it is unethical to use Indigenous peoples’ DNA in such a manner where there is no benefits, and we bear all the risks. More on Indigenous opposition to the GP can be found at our website http://www.ipcb.org