After a series of controversial papers were published in a scientific journal, eight members of its editorial board resigned. Critics fear that the papers could be used to persecute ethnic minorities in China and DNA profiling. The latest controversy surrounding ethically questionable research has engulfed Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine. The Intercept obtained emails showing that the journal editor-in-chief has not responded to queries regarding the papers. These papers involve research on Tibetans as well as Uyghurs. They were first brought to her attention by The Intercept in March. Wiley, a multi-national company based in New Jersey and one of the most respected scientific publishers worldwide, publishes the journal. Other journals have been criticized for studies involving DNA profiling, facial recognition and organ transplantation. However, this is the first time that eight members of an editorial board of a journal have resigned.Photo: Lies WillaertYves Moreau (bioinformatician at University of Leuven, Belgium) flagged the papers. He has been tirelessly trying to get journals to remove troubling or unethical articles for the past several years. When Kuwait announced plans to collect DNA from all residents and citizens of Kuwait, Moreaus' quest began in 2015. He was a leader in an international campaign against this law, which was eventually overturned the next year. He was convinced that science and artificial intelligence could be used to promote authoritarianism if they were not controlled. He said that technology has a comfortable, geeky image. If you look at the history and evolution of technology, however, you will see that it has been a source of power for centuries. Moreau realized that governments around the globe could use new technologies such as DNA testing to their advantage for political gains.Later, Moreau turned his attention towards DNA profiling in China. Xinjiang is home to an estimated 1,000,000 Uyghurs. There have been other instances when authorities collected DNA samples from residents. Moreau conducts an automated search of papers on ethically sensitive topics periodically. Earlier in the year, this search led to 18 papers at Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine.Some papers discuss genetic differences among ethnic groups. This research can be used by police to profile crime suspects and obtain DNA samples from a wider population. Some papers used samples Moreau suspects were not obtained with proper consent. With the goal of constructing genetic information for all 700,000,000 Chinese males, the Chinese government has been gathering DNA from all races. Chinese police can also forcefully collect DNA from certain groups such as migrant workers or political dissidents. Although Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine may not be the most prominent outlet for genetic research, its impact factor is 2.183. This means that other scientists can cite and read its papers. Its name Wiley lends it a stamp of respectability. The journal's title indicates that it was established to promote genetics research and medical applications. Many members of the editorial board study genetics and how it can be used to help doctors or scientists cure diseases. In 2019, the journal published papers from Chinese authors on forensic genetics. This field involves close cooperation with police. The United States has been a controversial country for years. China is a country where DNA collection is part a continuous effort to persecute other groups and ethnic minorities. This makes it even more controversial. One paper in the journal's title is "Forensic characteristics of Xinjiang Mongolians using a novel six fluorescent dye labeled typing system, including 41-Y STRs and three Y-InDels." Another map genetic differences among branches of China's major ethnic group, Han Chinese. Many papers include co-authors and funding from Chinese police agencies. One paper lists a coauthor from Tibet's Public Security Bureau, the regional police agency.Credit: onlinelibrary.wiley.comMoreau expressed his concerns to Suzanne Hart in March via email. Hart is the journal's editor-in-chief, deputy director at the medical genomics and genome medicine training program, U.S. National Institutes of Healths National Human Genome Research Institute. Since its inception, the journal has published two forensic genetic studies outside of China since 2013. He wrote that MGGM was specifically designated as a journal for publishing forensic population genetic studies of vulnerable Tibetans and Muslim minorities. Moreau expressed his concerns to Suzanne Hart in March via email. Hart is the journal's editor-in-chief, deputy director at the medical genomics and medicine training program of the U.S. National Institutes of Healths National Human Genome Research Institute. Since its inception, the journal has published two forensic genetic studies outside of China since 2013. He wrote that this suggests that MGGM was specifically designated as a journal for publishing forensic population genetic studies of vulnerable Tibetans and Muslim minorities. Hart responded the next day. Hart wrote back that she was looking into the matter and would respond soon. Moreau sent several follow-up emails. He told The Intercept that he had not received an update in months. The Intercept asked Hart questions on Tuesday and the Wiley public relations office sent Hart a statement via email. Hart stated that we are currently investigating the matter and working towards a prompt, transparent solution. Hart said that we take your concerns seriously and apologize for any delays in communicating with you. He detailed the suspect papers in a long email and explained how Chinese police use forensic genetics. Others on the board echoed his call for an investigation. Many board members said that they weren't involved in journal work and didn't know the papers were published. Scientists often serve on multiple boards simultaneously. Hart sent emails to The Intercept that day explaining that she had lost a family member and that she had written a message to Moreau. Unfortunately, it ended up in her outbox. She wrote that she would send a message shortly outlining the board's decision regarding how to deal with this issue. After she failed to provide any explanations to Moreau or the board, several weeks later, members of the board began to resign. Ophir Klein, a pediatric geneticist at the University of California San Francisco, stated that she would have liked to hear more from the editorial staff. She was also one of the board members who resigned. He said that the lack of communication had made him very concerned.I was really worried about the lack of communication.
