Journal
MSYSTEMS
Volume 6, Issue 5, Pages -Publisher
AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY
DOI: 10.1128/mSystems.00604-21
Keywords
antiracist; ethnicity; justice; microbiome; microbiota; race; racism
Categories
Funding
- Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Trainee award [RT-2020-04-64]
- Wall Scholar fellowship - Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of British Columbia
- School of Biological Sciences
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of California, Irvine
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This article argues that a careful examination of the relationship between human microbiome science and race and racism is crucial for promoting equitable social and ecological relations in the field. The problematic use of race in microbiome literature is highlighted, demonstrating how it limits the future of rigorous and just microbiome research. Actionable ways to build a more effective, anti-racist microbiome science are outlined as a conclusion.
In this article, we argue that a careful examination of human microbiome science's relationship with race and racism is necessary to foster equitable social and ecological relations in the field. We point to the origins and evolution of the problematic use of race in microbiome literature by demonstrating the increased usage of race both explicitly and implicitly in and beyond the human microbiome sciences. We demonstrate how these uses limit the future of rigorous and just microbiome research. We conclude with an outline of alternative actionable ways to build a more effective, antiracist microbiome science.
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