Go Back Research Article April, 2013

The uses of race and ethnicity in human microbiome research

Author James Dennis Fortenberry

Abstract

Research on the human microbiome is beginning to address factors associated with between-group differences. Recognition of the social and political nature of traditional race and ethnicity categories will allow microbiome research to contribute to reduction of health disparities while avoiding attribution of causal inference to specific race and ethnicity categories.

Keywords

ethnicity race microbiome human microbiome health disparities social determinants of health genetic variation cultural influences epidemiology microbiota gut microbiome microbial diversity public health personalized medicine ancestry environmental factors healthcare inequality biomedical research precision medicine racial and ethnic differences socioeconomic factors population health genetic ancestry health equity microbiome and disease community health translational medicine medical anthropology health policy
Details
Volume 21
Issue 4
Pages 165–166
DOI 10.1016/j.tim.2013.01.001
ISSN 1878-4380
Impact Metrics