Question

\white bias in genetic research may hurt health\
by vicky stein

modern humans originated on the continent of africa more than 300,000 years ago, and subsequent generations migrated across the land, with groups intermarrying or splitting apart. sometime around 80,000 years ago, a small number of descendants left the continent and radiated around the globe, taking with them just a subset of the genes and genetic variation that their ancestors had developed.

yet genetic studies are now dominated by that subset, according to a new article in cell.

as of last year, 78 percent of the people included in the most prominent form of genomic research—genome - wide association studies (gwas)—were of european ancestry. but worldwide, europeans and their descendents make up just 12 percent of the population.

according to the researchers, heavily biased genetic databases could—and do—lead scientists and doctors to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatments that might be relevant to people with european genes, but not for people from other racial backgrounds.

\if we dont include ethnically diverse populations, we are potentially going to be exacerbating health inequalities,\ said sarah tishkoff, study coauthor and a human geneticist at the university of pennsylvania.

use the passage to answer the question.
which statement from the passage establishes the author’s claim?
(1 point)

• \sometime around 80,000 years ago, a small number of descendants left the continent and radiated around the globe, taking with them just a subset of the genes and genetic variation that their ancestors had developed.\
• \yet genetic studies are now dominated by that subset, according to a new article in cell.\
• \according to the researchers, heavily biased genetic databases could—and do—lead scientists and doctors to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatments that might be relevant to people with european genes, but not for people from other racial backgrounds.\
• \as of last year, 78 percent of the people included in the most prominent form of genomic research—genome - wide association studies (gwas)—were of european ancestry\

Explanation:

The author's claim is that white bias in genetic research may hurt health. We need to find the statement that supports this claim by showing the negative impact of biased genetic databases.

• The first option talks about human migration and genetic variation, not the impact of bias on health.
• The second option only states that genetic studies are dominated by a subset, without showing the harm.
• The third option explains that biased genetic databases lead to diagnoses and treatments that are relevant for Europeans but not others, which directly shows how the bias can hurt the health of non - European racial backgrounds, supporting the author's claim.
• The fourth option just provides data on the percentage of Europeans in genomic research, not the impact on health.

Answer:

C. "According to the researchers, heavily biased genetic databases could—and do—lead scientists and doctors to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatments that might be relevant to people with European genes, but not for people from other racial backgrounds."