During this interdisciplinary discussion, the four panelists will discuss the ways that cultural practices and social structures intersect with biomedicine and genetics. Specifically, they will be examining the ways that endogamy and caste structures in South Asian contexts have produced implications for health practices and medical predispositions. Ultimately, the discussion will touch upon the ways that seemingly disparate academic fields can help inform and improve the practices and understandings of other disciplines. This seminar was inspired by the New York Times article “In South Asian Social Castes, a Living Lab for Genetic Disease” by Steph Yin, published on July 17, 2017.
David Reich, Professor, Harvard Medical School
Priya Moorjani, Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics and Development, University of California, Berkeley
Richard Meadow, Director, Zooarchaeology Laboratory, Peabody Museum of Harvard University
Michael Witzel, Wales Professor of Sanskrit, Harvard University
Chair: Venkatesh Murthy, Professor and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Co-sponsored with the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University; Possible through the generosity of the Asia Center
Monday, April 23, 2018
4:00PM – 5:30PM
Reception to follow
