Rosenberg Lab
Research
Dr. Rosenberg's research focuses on the genetic basis of human evolution, including some fascinating research on the biological determinants of 'race', or the lack thereof. His seminal study, "Genetic structure of human populations," published in Science on Dec. 20, 2002, was chosen as 2003 Paper of the Year by the premiere British Medical Journal The Lancet. A member of the selection committee wrote of the paper's nomination:
The paper by Rosenberg et al has two messages of utmost importance: one general biological, even humanistic, and one methodological. The general biological lesson is that the overwhelming source of human genetic variation is between individuals and not between ethnic groups. In the paper this becomes even clearer by the finding that there are no absolute genetic differences between ethnic groups: the differences that exist are in relative frequencies only. The methodological lesson is that for genetic risk assessment it follows that investigators can use standard epidemiological study designs, provided self-reported ethnic background is taken into account: for such risk assessment one should not worry about genetic admixture. The most enlightening aspect of the paper, however, is the insight that it gives in the Genetic structure of human populations, the very title of the paper.
Click here to read the full description of The Lancet selection process.
Here are some reactions to the study within the popular press:
- "Code of Many Colors" in Science News
- "Race - The Power of an Illusion" in California Newsreel
