Comparative globalizations: building and dismantling genetic laboratories in Lebanon

Area of Science:

• Human genetics
• History of science
• Medical anthropology

Background:

• The American University of Beirut (AUB) has been a key site for scientific exchange between Western and Middle Eastern actors.
• Human genetics research evolved significantly from interwar anthropometry to post-war specialized laboratories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine two distinct periods in the globalization of human genetics research centered at AUB.
• To analyze the collaborative and neo-colonial dynamics in human population genetics.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of scientific initiatives at AUB.
• Examination of research methodologies including anthropometry and sero-anthropology.
• Review of the establishment and failure of the Anthropological Blood Grouping Laboratory (ABGL).

Main Results:

• Interwar AUB fostered local training and dissemination of human heredity research in multiple languages.
• Post-war attempts at international collaboration, exemplified by the ABGL, were short-lived and extractive.
• The ABGL's structure reflected neo-colonial patterns, marginalizing local scientific engagement.

Conclusions:

• The globalization of human genetics at AUB shows a shift from inclusive local development to neo-colonial extractive practices.
• Understanding historical scientific collaborations is crucial for equitable global research partnerships.