TED: Why genetic research must be more diverse | Keolu Fox

The video discusses the history of Kalaupapa and Father Damien's dedication to the Hawaiian leper colony. It explores the speaker's curiosity about genetic ancestry and health, highlighting the lack of diversity in genetic research, which predominantly focuses on European ancestry. The video addresses historical distrust in research, exemplified by the Havasupai tribe's case. It emphasizes the need to address health disparities among indigenous populations through genomics. The speaker envisions a future where indigenous communities lead genetic research and education, promoting empowerment and collaboration.

What inspired the speaker's interest in the genetic makeup of Hawaiians?

• A book about global genetic diversity

• A visit to a genetic research lab

• A school project on European ancestry

• Stories about Kalaupapa and Father Damien

What percentage of genome studies have focused on individuals of European ancestry?

• 50%

• 75%

• 96%

• 100%

Why did the Havasupai tribe sue Arizona State University?

• For not providing enough funding

• For using their blood samples without consent

• For failing to cure type 2 diabetes

• For not including them in the Human Genome Project

What is the life expectancy difference between native Hawaiians and their non-native counterparts?

• 20 years

• 5 years

• 15 years

• 10 years

What is the speaker's vision for making genetic research more inclusive?

• Focusing only on European ancestry

• Eliminating all genetic research

• Using portable genome sequencers

• Building larger laboratories

What is the purpose of the IndiGenomics research institute?

• To focus solely on type 2 diabetes

• To ban all genetic research

• To educate the next generation of indigenous scientists

• To conduct experiments on European ancestry

What does the speaker suggest the research community should do, similar to Father Damien?

• Immerse in indigenous culture

• Ignore indigenous culture

• Stop all genetic research

• Focus only on European ancestry