A Narrative Review on The Impact of Genomic Research on Personal and Group Identity

Qian Sun

doi:10.54097/vkcpkc89

Authors

Qian Sun

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/vkcpkc89

Keywords:

Genomic research; Personal identity; Group identity; Ancestry testing; Race; Disability; Ethics.

Abstract

Genomic research is increasingly intersecting with questions of personal and group identity. This narrative review synthesizes open-access, peer-reviewed literature to examine how genomic information influences individual identity (health self-concept, ancestry, disability) and group identity (racial, ethnic, national, social classifications). Key findings indicate that personal genomic data (e.g. direct-to-consumer ancestry tests) can reshape individuals’ self-perception of heritage and health, though reactions vary widely. Group identities, especially concepts of race and ethnicity, are both challenged and reinforced by genomic research. While genetic evidence undermines simplistic racial categories, the use of such categories in research can inadvertently reify them. Disability studies document tensions between genomic interventions and identity in the disabled community, suggesting concerns that reducing genetic conditions may devalue those identities. Major debates emerge around genomic essentialism versus social constructs of identity, data privacy and the ethics of defining group membership via DNA. Across domains, identity outcomes hinge not on DNA per se but on how genomic data are interpreted within socio‑historical frames. Thus, further interdisciplinary research is needed to address these dynamics and inform policies that respect both the scientific and social dimensions of identity.

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