The development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and health services is increasingly predicated on the search for significant biological differences within and between populations. However, comparisons of these differences raise important scientific, social, ethical and policy questions. On the one hand, there is the potential to provide improved research, treatment and health services that are targeted for specific populations. However, by linking genetic information to socially defined categories, there is also the potential to reinforce crude biological notions of race and/or ethnicity and for the research to be misused in political, scientific or clinical contexts. If these latter issues are not addressed, scientific research in this area may be misconceived and lack public support.Race in the age of Genomic Medicine Symposiu
