Socio-Genetic Marginalisation in Asia

Asia is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to research in the life sciences. It plays a major role both in shaping international research practices and in the formulation of bioethical research regulations in the field of biomedical research and research applications, including stem cell research, genetic testing and screening, reproductive technologies and the banking of biological materials. Not only wealthy welfare societies such as Japan and Singapore, but also large developing countries such as China and India, are strong global competitors at the forefront of biomedical research and biotech applications. These new fields of research, on the one hand, promise to yield revolutionary technologies and biomedical knowledge that could enhance the health and welfare of large patient populations, including diabetes, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, bioethical concerns have come about due to the novel and global nature of life sciences and the application of resultant technologies in some regions where even the most basic healthcare is poor.

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