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Race medicine article: A magnet for controversy

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American



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The article "Race in a Bottle" by Jonathan Kahn supplies a critical analysis of the approval of the first ethnic drug, a heart failure medication for African-Americans. It provoked an immediate reaction from NitroMed, the drug's maker, and from the Association of Black Cardiologists, both of which defended the designation of self-identified race as an imperfect but still useful means of ascertaining genetic variation within a population and, by consequence, differences in drug response that warranted FDA approval. "Race in a Bottle" is free to readers. And we have included a package of responses and related links as part of our InFocus features section. Readers can access responses from NitroMed, the Association of Black Cardiologists and a reply from the author. We are very interested in reader opinions on this highly controversial subject.

Gary Stix, the neuroscience and psychology editor for Scientific American, edits and reports on emerging advances that have propelled brain science to the forefront of the biological sciences. Stix has edited or written cover stories, feature articles and news on diverse topics, ranging from what happens in the brain when a person is immersed in thought to the impact of brain implant technology that alleviates mood disorders like depression. Before taking over the neuroscience beat, Stix, as Scientific American's special projects editor, oversaw the magazine's annual single-topic special issues, conceiving of and producing issues on Einstein, Darwin, climate change and nanotechnology. One special issue he edited on the topic of time in all of its manifestations won a National Magazine Award. Stix is the author with his wife Miriam Lacob of a technology primer called Who Gives a Gigabyte: A Survival Guide to the Technologically Perplexed.

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