Nicolai Ladefoged
Scientist Spotlight #3: Rick Kittles
Dr. Rick Kittles related to the genetics unit we are learning in class. The learning
objective his research is most linked to is “Know and use the vocabulary needed to discuss
genetic inheritance including gene, allele, dominant, recessive, parent, gamete, offspring,
genotype, phenotype, homozygote, heterozygote, carrier” (4.06 Mendelian Genetics). He goes
into detail about how race is a social construct and that our genes have great variability in
determining how we look rather than where we are from. A general concept his research links to
his gene heritability, specifically over generations, and how they can change based on mixing
with different types of people. The most interesting thing to me was learning that race is more of
a social construct rather than based on genetics. For example, he explains in his Ted Talk how
certain “African Americans may actually have genes more closely related to Europe rather than
Africa” (Kittles 2011). I like understanding how the term “race” has been used for centuries to
distinguish people from each other, but it has its issues. Two big takeaways that I can take away
from Dr. Kittles' research paper on misclassified cancer cell lines is that “for White/Caucasiandesignated cell lines there is predominantly EUR ancestry, yet there is high variance in ancestry
for the Black/African American–designated cell lines. It also points out how there was extreme
misclassification of the E006AA-hT cell line” (Kittle 2019). His research shows how previous
classifications of certain genes with races are incorrect and should be further investigated. These
resources tell me that the people in science work in science to fix people’s misjudgments of
others and adhere to the biological/scientific standpoint rather than ignorant social constructs. He
explains that his research “is a passion driven by social justice concerns” (Bonar 2018). His main
goal is to eliminate health inequities when it comes to low-income communities and show people
their ancestral roots. I see myself in Dr. Kittles's shoes as we both want to find ways to promote
social justice. I want to pursue a similar career where I can work to improve the lives of lowincome communities and reduce inequity.
References
Bonar, S. (2018, February 28). Rick Kittles, PHD: On A Mission to Eliminate Health Inequities.
City of Hope. https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/rick-kittles-is-on-a-mission-toeliminate-health-inequitiesLinks to an external site.
Hooker, S. E., Woods-Burnham, L., Bathina, M., Lloyd, S., Gorjala, P., Mitra, R., Nonn, L.,
Kimbro, K. S., & Kittles, R. A. (2019, June 3). Genetic ancestry analysis reveals
misclassification of commonly used cancer cell lines. American Association for Cancer
Research. https://aacrjournals.org/cebp/article/28/6/1003/71948/Genetic-AncestryAnalysis-Reveals
Kerr, S. (2023, November 13). 1107A F23 4.06 Mendelian Genetics. Atlanta; Georgia Institute
of Technology.
YouTube. (2011, January 25). The biology of race in the absence of biological races: Rick
Kittles at tedxnorthwesternu. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAWrwexwTo