South Asia: The Missing Diverse in Diversity

South Asia, making up around 25% of the world’s population, encompasses a wide range of individuals with tremendous genetic and environmental diversity. This region, which spans eight countries, is home to over 4500 anthropologically defined groups that speak numerous languages and have an array of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavior genetics 2024-01, Vol.54 (1), p.51-62
Main Authors: Dokuru, Deepika R., Horwitz, Tanya B., Freis, Samantha M., Stallings, Michael C., Ehringer, Marissa A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Genetic disorders
Genetic diversity
Health Psychology
Health risks
Population genetics
Psychology
Public Health
Religious beliefs
Review
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:South Asia, making up around 25% of the world’s population, encompasses a wide range of individuals with tremendous genetic and environmental diversity. This region, which spans eight countries, is home to over 4500 anthropologically defined groups that speak numerous languages and have an array of religious beliefs and cultures, making it one of the most diverse places in the world. Much of the region’s rich genetic diversity and structure is the result of a complex combination of population history, migration patterns, and endogamous practices. Despite the overwhelming size and diversity, South Asians have often been underrepresented in genetic research, making up less than 2% of the participants in genetic studies. This has led to a lack of population specific understanding of genetic disease risks. We aim to raise awareness about underlying genetic diversity in this ancestry group, call attention to the lack of representation of the group, and to highlight strategies for future studies in South Asians.
ISSN:0001-8244
1573-3297
1573-3297
DOI:10.1007/s10519-023-10161-y