Genetic goldrush
THE wave of international concern for vanishing biological diversity has identified a new field of prospecting - vanishing peoples. The us-based 'Human Genome Diversity Project' is intent on collecting tissue samples from 700 endan gered indigenous societies, whom it refers to as 'isolates of historic interest'. It aims to 'immortalise' them, by establishing viable cQl1 lines in laboratories, in order to search for unique DNA sequences that may offer clues to genetically-caused diseases and to potentially lucrative cures.
This fascinating television documentary, by independent iw producer Luke Holland, confronts us with the moral dilemmas of the genetic goldrush'. The proponents argue that the collection, and eventually atenting, of rare human cell-types and genes from these peoples is justified for :rie 'greater human good' - 7'-ie applied science provides ; @'hort cut to new cures.
The peoples themselves, however, have rather different opinions, as this film so sensitively brings ' out. Explains Leonora Zalabata, spokesperson for the Arhuaco people of northern Colombia: "Our land, our culture, our sub-soil, our ideology and our traditions have been exploited. This could be another form of exploitation. Only this time, they are using us as raw materials." George Annas, professor of Medial Ethics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, agrees: "We are taking from them their DNA, which we now consider like gold. It is even worse than standard colonialism and exploitation because we are taking the one thing that we value. And after we take that, we have no real interest in whether they live or die." Behind the new rhetoric lie the same attitudes, which treat indigenous peoples as inferior and ignorant, and therefore deny them their rights. The complaints in the film highlight the key issues in this moral debate - informed consent. Do the individuals who are giving these samples know what happens to them? Are they consulted about further applications of the scientific findings? Are they assured of a share of any benefits? High in the Sierra Nevada in Colombia we learn the truth, as geneticists from the Bogota-based Genetics Institute, accompanied by scientists from the pharmaceuticals giant Hoffman-La Roche, draw blood from isolated Asario Indians.
In fact, we don't tell every community that we are immortalising their cells," admits Alberto Gomez, a doctor. On the contrary, we learn, the Indians are persuaded to allow their blood to be taken because the visiting doctors offer them one-off medical treatments, which these isolated peoples otherwise have little chance of obtaining. Nor, we learn later, do the communities get informed about any scientific findings.
The producer's sympathies for the rights of the indigenous peoples are clear, but he leaves us to make up our own minds about the best solutions to this moral dilemma.