Modern humans originated on the continent of Africa more than 300,000 years ago, and subsequent generations migrated across the land, with groups intermarrying or splitting apart. Sometime around 80,000 years ago, a small number of descendants left the continent and radiated around the globe, taking with them just a subset of the genes and genetic variation that their ancestors had developed.
Yet genetic studies are now dominated by that subset, according to a new article in Cell.
As of last year, 78 percent of the people included in the most prominent form of genomic research-genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-were of European ancestry.
But worldwide, Europeans and their descendents make up just 12 percent of the population.
According to the researchers, heavily biased genetic databases could and do-lead scientists and doctors to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatments that might be relevant to people with European genes, but not for people from other racial backgrounds.
Which statement from the passage establishes the author's claim?
A. "According to the researchers, heavily biased genetic databases could and do-lead scientists and doctors to diagnose conditions. or prescribe treatments that might be relevant to people with European genes, but not for people from other racial backgrounds."
B. "Sometime around 80,000 years ago, a small number of descendants left the continent and radiated around the globe, taking with them just a subset of the genes and genetic variation that their ancestors had developed."
C. "As of last year, 78 percent of the people included in the most prominent form of genomic research-genome-wide
association studies (GWAS)-were of European ancestry."
D. "Yet genetic studies are now
• dominated by that subset, according to a new article in Cell."
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The statement from the passage that establishes the author's claim is:
A. "According to the researchers, heavily biased genetic databases could and do-lead scientists and doctors to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatments that might be relevant to people with European genes, but not for people from other racial backgrounds."
This statement directly highlights the concern about the impact of biased genetic research on health outcomes for individuals from different racial backgrounds.
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