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Open research questions in Race, Genetics, and Society

196 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 2,251 Race, Genetics, and Society papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • There is a lack of empirical testing of the effect of evolutionary explanations for anxiety on clinicians' attitudes. Prior work has shown that biogenetic and neuroscientific accounts can have negative effects on prognostic optimism and empathy. The study aims to fill this gap by providing an experimental test of the effect of evolutionary versus genetic explanations.

    Clinicians’ attitudes to evolutionary versus genetic explanations for anxiety: cluster-randomised study of stigmatisation · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of direct empirical evidence from colonial India. The field of intergenerational epigenetic inheritance remains contested. There is a need for further research on the intergenerational consequences of colonial trauma.

    From Colonial Trauma to Biological Memory: A Critical Review of Intergenerational Epigenetic Mechanisms · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity of the topic and the limited time available. The difficulty of building trust and facilitating genuine interactions in online dialogues. The need to adapt the engagement and dialogue processes to the cultural sensitivities and humility of the participants.

    A Culturally Grounded Method for Dialogue Between Indigenous Peoples and Researchers on Emerging Technologies: Lessons from the Gene Drive Context · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity of the topic and the limited time available were challenges in the dialogue process. Meaningful engagement and capacity development require time and sustainable engagement through several iterations.

    A Culturally Grounded Method for Dialogue Between Indigenous Peoples and Researchers on Emerging Technologies: Lessons from the Gene Drive Context · 2026 · DOI

  • Fear of stigma and discrimination. Lack of awareness and engagement from researchers. Limited representation of diverse populations in genomic research.

    “There’s no representation”: a qualitative study of attitudes and motivations towards genomic research participation among Australian South Asians · 2026 · DOI

  • The underrepresentation of diverse populations in genomic research limits equitable genomic healthcare. There is a need for improved representation of diverse populations in genomic research.

    “There’s no representation”: a qualitative study of attitudes and motivations towards genomic research participation among Australian South Asians · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in current research on the need for a renewed reflection on the sacredness of diversity. The paper argues that the analysis of the Aylmer twins' story can contribute to this reflection.

    One Origin, Many Shades: Genetic Diversity, Human Unity, and the Extraordinary Case of the Aylmer Twins · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited infrastructure and technological expertise is a major stumbling block to the national genome projects. Geographic constraints, including distribution of population and infrastructure, pose significant logistical challenges. Efforts to repurpose existing facilities can face resistance from healthcare and academic administrations.

    Challenges and recommendations in establishing national human diversity genomic projects · 2026 · DOI

  • Consulting with regional leaders or neighbours with established genomic expertise for special opportunities and access to genomic sequencing technologies is suggested. Addressing challenges in establishing national genome projects requires a comprehensive strategy.

    Challenges and recommendations in establishing national human diversity genomic projects · 2026 · DOI

  • To study the social and environmental determinants of health in precision medicine research. To develop more affordable and accessible precision medicines.

    Precision Medicine and the “Methodological Genomification” of Racial Health Disparities · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap between the promise of precision medicine and its actual impact on health disparities. The lack of focus on social and environmental determinants of health in precision medicine research.

    Precision Medicine and the “Methodological Genomification” of Racial Health Disparities · 2026 · DOI

  • Reference bias in genotype-first screening - Limited understanding of the impact of reference minor alleles on automated bioinformatic pipelines - Need for improved methods to mitigate reference bias

    Beyond the linear genome: how reference bias threatens preventive medicine and geroscience · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigation of the clinical significance of false-positive annotations - Development of graph-based pangenomes to mitigate reference bias - Examination of the effects of reference bias on other genomic analyses

    Beyond the linear genome: how reference bias threatens preventive medicine and geroscience · 2026 · DOI

  • Off-target effects and mosaicism. The controversy of enhancement versus therapy. The lack of a harmonized governance framework for gene editing in Africa.

    Navigating the human gene editing scene and proposing a new governance framework in Africa: from knowledge to policy to action · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of a harmonized governance framework for gene editing in Africa. The need for a comprehensive review of the literature on gene editing and its governance. The gap in public participation and deliberation in African biomedical governance.

    Navigating the human gene editing scene and proposing a new governance framework in Africa: from knowledge to policy to action · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of strategic collaboration among human genetics societies hinders effective impact. The challenge of ensuring that the perspective and expertise of professional bodies are reflected in national debate and policy making. The need for professional bodies to serve as a trusted source of information and provide evidence-based data and expert analysis to the general public and decision-makers.

    Professional bodies: how best to promote and support individuals working in human genetics and genomics · 2026 · DOI

  • Professional bodies: how best to promote and support individuals working in human genetics and genomics William G. Newman 1 ✉ © The Author(s) 2026 Journal of Human Genetics; https://doi.org/10.1038/s10038-026-01458-x : , ; ) ( 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Professional bodies are dedicated to the advancement of the knowledge and practice of professions through developing, supporting, regulating and promoting professional standards for technical and ethical competence [1]. They seek to maximise the public benefit of the work undertaken by their members and support the reputation of their professional members. In the UK, the Science Council defines a Professional Body as ‘an organisation with individual members, practicing a profession or occupation in which the organisation maintains an oversight of the knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation.’ Some professional bodies are regulated by the executive at a national level to ensure that professional titles are only used by individuals who are registered and entitled to use these e.g. medical doctors. However, most professional bodies are independent membership that coordinate the activities of a particular organisations profession or a group of closely related professions and represent the interests of their members. It is into this latter group that human genetics and genomics professional bodies fall.

    Professional bodies: how best to promote and support individuals working in human genetics and genomics · 2026 · DOI

  • whether ageing is desirable or undesirable - whether ageing should be classified as a disease - the specific interpretation and the conclusions drawn from the concept of ageing

    Biological age and the risk of discrimination · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of biological age and its potential to become a basis for discrimination. It highlights the need to consider biological age as a distinct concept from chronological age. The analysis emphasizes the importance of assessing the implications of adopting biological age as a basis for legal age change.

    Biological age and the risk of discrimination · 2026 · DOI

  • Background While international research has explored the Nature of Science (NOS) in textbooks, few studies have systematically analyzed its historical evolution within a specific subject area.

    The nature of science in genetics education: a historical analysis of Japanese high school biology textbooks, 1963–2023 · 2026 · DOI

  • The perspectives of genomic citizen scientists on ownership of research outputs are not well understood, yet they are useful for identifying alignment of participant expectations and project practices and can help guide efforts to develop innovative tools and strategies for managing ownership claims.

    “Idealists and capitalists”: ownership attitudes and preferences in genomic citizen science · 2022 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in understanding the role of VAMP7 in human male urogenital development. Previous studies had not investigated the link between VAMP7 and human sexual development disorders.

    WORLD OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY: Messing with Masculinization · 2014 · DOI

  • Further studies on the role of DNA in genetics and heredity. Exploration of the implications of the discovery for fields such as biotechnology and genetic engineering.

    Oswald Avery, DNA, and the transformation of biology · 2014 · DOI

  • The initial lack of acceptance of the discovery of DNA as the genetic material. The need for further research to confirm the findings and explore their implications.

    Oswald Avery, DNA, and the transformation of biology · 2014 · DOI

  • Despite a growing personal genomics market, little is known about how people engage with the possibilities offered by direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing.

    Autobiologies on YouTube: narratives of direct-to-consumer genetic testing · 2014 · DOI

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196 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 2,251 Race, Genetics, and Society papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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