Genographic Project might be called a kind of exploratory ‘mapping’ project. Much like explorers in the ancient world attempted to map the globe; the project’s explorers are trying to map a kind of topography of the human condition. Rather than create a map of the physical universe, the Genographic Project seeks to create a map of the history of the human species as told by its migration patterns, as recorded in human DNA (“The Genographic Project,” National Geographic, 2005). “The Genographic Project aims to collect and analyze DNA samples from over 100,000 indigenous and traditional people, making it the world’s largest survey of its kind in the field of anthropological genetics, driven by an ethical framework and locally accountable review boards and protocols. The resulting data, we hope, will map world migratory patterns dating back some 150,000 years and will fill in the huge gaps in our knowledge of humankind’s migratory history” (“FAQ,” National Geographic, 2005).
Its sponsors
The five-year long Genographic Project is sponsored by National Geographic and IBM, along with geneticist Stanley Wells (“About the Project,” National Geographic, 2005). Its sponsors, the official website of the project states are also ‘you,’ namely ordinary people who voluntarily purchase a Genographic Project Public Participation Kit and send a cheek-swab sample of their DNA (“FAQ,” National Geographic, 2005).
Its process
The processes used in data collection by the project would not have been possible ten short years ago. The project uses the most sophisticated laboratory and computer analysis of DNA available. The DNA is voluntarily contributed by hundreds of thousands of people from around the world through the project’s methods of solicitation (“The Genographic Project,” National Geographic, 2005). The DNA has been donated by “indigenous and traditional populations and the general public — to reveal man’s migratory history and to better understand the connections and differences that make up humankind” (“FAQ,” National Geographic, 2005).
Its mission and goals
The project is attempting to find out answers to such questions as ‘how did we, each of us, end up where we are, on earth, as opposed to where our distant ancestors live?’ It also attempts to explore why the human race is so physically diverse, namely, “why do we appear in such a wide array of different colors and features” (“About the Project,” National Geographic, 2005). Thus project hopes to better understand both human migration and the evolution of diversity within the human species.
Its findings to date
Thus far, by following the generations back from the DNA donations, the project concludes that all of us come from the same ancestors in Africa, although from this original, common origin the human genetic tree has branched out considerably in terms of its geography and the diversity of the species (“About the Project,” National Geographic, 2005).
A discussion of the “pros” or possible beneficial outcomes of this project
This sense of commonality and collapsing of racial differences could be used to promote tolerance. If we all come from one ancestor, notions of racial division may seem less important, after the project releases its results. Also, the project, unlike previous studies of racial migration, is multinational in its composition and is subject to approval from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Pennsylvania Office of Regulatory Affairs so it will act “in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards necessary for research involving human participants” (“FAQ,” National Geographic, 2005). It is defined by collaboration and voluntary participation. It also does not have a specific, pre-existing thesis, like some questionable projects in the past that have attempted to prove the racial superiority of one group or another.
Cons” or possible negative outcomes, methodological/theoretical/social problems with this project
On the other hand, the fact that we are all genetically so similar under the skin could cause some people to use this as justification for an end to affirmative action, or the end of recognizing different people’s right to collective self-determination. This would ignore the centuries of history where people were treated as different because of their appearance and the impact racism and xenophobia has had on human history. It also ignores the impact of culture in creating human associations and ‘nations.’ Studying migration patterns might still be viewed as a study of ‘progress’ rather than difference.
The work seems to be carried out with a certain Western bias, evidenced in the language of the website: “But we don’t just need genetic information from Inuit and San Bushmen — we need yours as well (“About the Project,” National Geographic, 2005). Furthermore, the randomness of the sampling, because some of the samplings are based upon donation, might skew the results in favor of the DNA representation of people who hear about the project through Western media outlets like the Internet. Also, the Genographic Project Public Participation Kit must be purchased, which might skew the data in favor of individuals with the financial means to buy the kits. The fact that these kits must be purchased also means that financial donors are the subjects of the study, which could be seen as ethically problematic.
One of more debatable ‘problems’ is the lack of a focus on genes, and the focus on migration of ‘peoples.’ Although it is not specifically ideological in its orientation, the project website does state that cultural preservation is one of its core goals, an the idea that cultures can be statically ‘preserved’ like museum pieces seems questionable, almost as if it is reducing certain cultures to museum pieces because they are ‘indigenous.’ Also, the connection between cultural preservation and outlining the genetic and migratory diversity of the human species seems somewhat tangentially connected.
Present your opinion regarding this project using the information from your research to support your view
Although the project may be well-intentioned, perhaps the ultimate criteria for evaluating its ethical validity comes from the perspective of the indigenous people it is attempting to ‘preserve’ as one of its goals. “Indigenous peoples have consistently voiced their opposition to this type of research because it breaches cultural values, bioethical standards and human rights law (Butler 2005, p.2). The Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism (IPCB), have questioned the way in which the project sets up indigenous peoples as “subjects for scientific curiosity,” and the lack of control the donors have over how their genetic information will be used, once it is given to the project (Butler 2005, p.2). In the point-of-view of these representatives of indigenous groups, “the research is designed around a racial research agenda, which will only result in racially interpreted conclusions based on bad science. What is more, the organization views the project researchers as operating in a field in which there is no legal framework to hold violators accountable for misuse of genetic material” (Butler 2005, p.2). Even if their objections seem overly sensitive, it should be placed in a context of how such genetic research about indigenous peoples was conducted in the past, and for indigenous donors there are serious questions about how informed their consent can be, when they release their information. Finally, as noted by the IPCB: “There could be serious political implications that result from a so-called ‘scientific’ assertion that indigenous peoples are not ‘indigenous’ to their territories, but instead are recent migrants from some other place,” that the donors are not aware of, when they give their DNA (Butler 2005, p.2)..
Works Cited
About the Project.” National Geographic, 2005. 10 Feb 2008.
A https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/about.html
Butler, Tina. “Indigenous groups oppose National Geographic, IBM project.”
Mongabay.com. 9 May 2005. 10 Feb 2008. http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0509a-tina_butler.html
FAQ” National. National Geographic. 2005. 10 Feb 2008.
A https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/faqs_about.html#Q1
The Genographic Project.” National Geographic. 2005. 10 Feb 2008.
A https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
