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Review
. 2021 Sep 21;3(1):100058.
doi: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2021.100058. eCollection 2022 Jan 13.

Ending genetic essentialism through genetics education

Brian M Donovan  1
Affiliations
Review

Ending genetic essentialism through genetics education

Brian M Donovan. HGG Adv. .

Abstract

Genetic concepts are regularly used in arguments about racial inequality. This review summarizes research about the relationship between genetics education and a particular form of racial prejudice known as genetic essentialism. Genetic essentialism is a cognitive form of prejudice that is used to rationalize inequality. Studies suggest that belief in genetic essentialism among genetics students can be increased or decreased based on what students learn about human genetics and why they learn it. Research suggests that genetics education does little to prevent the development of genetic essentialism, and it may even exacerbate belief in it. However, some forms of genetics education can avert this problem. In particular, if instructors teach genetics to help students understand the flaws in genetic essentialist arguments, then it is possible to reduce belief in genetic essentialism among biology students. This review outlines our knowledge about how to accomplish this goal and the research that needs to be done to end genetic essentialism through genetics education.

Keywords: ▪▪▪.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no competing interests.

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