Human Population Genetic Research in Developing Countries

Human population genetic research seeks to identify how human group and individual genetic diversity has developed. Since this research targets specific groups often living in isolated, rural areas of developing countries in order to discover variation, it also raises many pressing ethical and legal concerns as these groups could be considered vulnerable to exploitation. The book explores whether developing countries are well prepared for the ethical and legal conduct of human population genetic research and to what degree the current frameworks in place in Western developed countries where the researchers usually come from provide adequate protections.

Yue Wang is a lecturer in Xi'an Jiaotong University, PR China, Research Staff of Information Security Law Research Centre at Xi'an Jiaotong University.

1. Introduction 2. Human Gene, Genetic Information and Genetic Research 3. Consent and Human Subject Protection 4. Human Population Genetic Research and its Harms 5. Group Protection in Human Population Genetic Research 6. Developing Countries: Mother Loads of Genes? 7. Conclusion 8. Appendix 1 9. Appendix 2