Ethnicity vs. Genetic Ancestry: Knowing The Hand You Are Dealt

Friday, October 12, 2012: 10:15 AM-11:45 AM
609 (WSCC)
Chair:
Beverly Torok-Storb, PhD, Full Member of the Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Description: This session will take a multidisciplinary approach to explain what we currently know about ethnicity vs. genetic ancestry and their roles in health and disease; and importantly what we don’t know and need to address in future biomedical research. Disciplines include genetics, molecular biology, epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical medicine and bioethics.



10:15 AM
Introductory Remarks
10:20 AM
Genetic ancestry and ethnicity are not the same
Jose Lopez, MD , Executive Vice President of Research , Puget Sound Blood Center
10:40 AM
The use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to define genetic ancestry
Effie Petersdorf, MD , Full Member of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Professor of Medical Oncology Division, University of Washington School of Medicine, Physician at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
11:00 AM
How do we move forward ethically?
Beverly Torok-Storb, PhD , Full Member of the Clinical Research Division , Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
11:20 AM
Does genetic ancestry impact morbidity of chronic diseases
Bessie Young, MD , Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Director of Home Hemodialysis Unit, Northwest Kidney Centers, and Core Investigator, Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center at University of Washington