A. M'charek

Fragile differences, relational effects: Stories about the materiality of race and sex

This article is about the materiality of difference, about race, sex and sexual differences among others. To find out about these differences and their materialities, this article looks not into bodies but rather at how bodies are positioned in spaces and how they are enacted in practice. In the first part of the article, the focus is on the relationality of identities and how they are made and unmade in specific practices. The second part of the article attends to the various histories and practices that are drawn together in one specific body and how they help to enact a particular version of the body. Differences, it is argued, are not given ‘entities’ out there, awaiting dis-covery; rather they are effects that come about in relational practices. This indicates that materiality is not simply a given that can be taken on board (such as readily given biology or the body), but it is the very configuration through which differences can be articulated.

Bracketing off population does not advance ethical reflection on EVCs: a reply to Kayser and Schneider

In a recent contribution to this journal, Kayser and Schneider reviewed the relevance of external visible characteristics (EVCs) for criminal investigation [1]. Their aim was to broaden the debate about the scientific, legal, and ethical dimensions of the use of EVCs for criminal investigation, which will help to achieve a firm legal basis for the application of EVCs eventually. While we applaud Kaysers and Schneiders overall very thoughtful and nuanced discussion of this topic, we were surprised to read that they suggest that a discussion of ‘the challenges of using problematic definitions of populations […] has to be kept separate from using EVCs’ (p. 158). In contrast to these authors, we contend that questions about defining populations – both at the level of scientific research, and the application of EVCs in criminal investigation – lie at the core of most social, ethical, and legal issues raised by the translation of EVCs into forensic and police practices

The Mitochondrial eve of modern genetics: Of peoples and genomes, or the routinization of race

In June 2000 the sequence of the complete human genome was presented to the world by science, politics and commerce. Since then, we have learned that the work of the Human Genome Project is not yet...

Ethnicizing sexuality: an analysis of research practices in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT Ethnicity is a frequently used measure in research into youth and sexuality in the Netherlands, a country known and admired for its favourable sexual health outcomes. This paper critically examines the production of knowledge about sexuality and ethnicity in the Netherlands. It traces the concept of ethnicity through four research practices (rationales of taking up ethnicity and compiling research populations; determining ethnicity; statistical calculations and making recommendations). It shows how the notion of ethnicity is flexible, slippery and changeable, yet at the same time becomes solidified and naturalized in relation to sexuality. The paper is based on a literature review of youth and sexuality in the Netherlands.

Inleiding: Monsters in de sociologie. De wondere wereld van ANT

Dit themanummer verkent de waarde van actor-netwerk theorie (ANT) voor de sociologie. Met behulp van casestudies, interviews, conversaties en columns beogen wij de empirische sensibiliteit voor praktijken en objecten die ANT kenmerkt inzichtelijk te maken, en deze te relateren aan de sociologie. Daarmee is dit themanummer geen representatie van ANT, en ook over de relatie van ANT met de sociologie wil het geen eindoordeel vellen. Wel wil het nieuwe vragen oproepen, en hoopt het de nieuwsgierigheid van ons publiek te prikkelen. Wat kan een nauwgezette aandacht voor objecten en praktijken ons nu opleveren? En - de keerzijde van de medaille - wat eist op haar beurt een dergelijke sensibiliteit van ons?

Approaching ethical, legal and social issues of emerging forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) technologies comprehensively

In a recent special issue of the journal on new trends in forensic genetics, Manfred Kayser contributed a review of developments, opportunities and challenges of forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP). In his article he argues that FDP technologies – such as determining eye, hair and skin color – should be considered as akin to a “biological witness” with the potential of providing more accurate information than traditional eye witnesses [1]...In this letter, we add some of these missing dimensions to the proposals made by Kayser, embedding our response to his paper into a wider discourse of forensic genetics studies, and addressing the wider community of forensic geneticists, practitioners and policy makers.

Letter: Approaching ethical, legal and social issues of emerging forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) technologies comprehensively: Reply to Forensic DNA phenotyping: Predicting human appearance from crime scene material for investigative purposes by Manfred Kayser in FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS, vol 22, issue , pp E1-E4

In a recent special issue of the journal on new trends in forensic genetics, Manfred Kayser contributed a review of developments, opportunities and challenges of forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP). In his article he argues that FDP technologies – such as determining eye, hair and skin color – should be considered as akin to a “biological witness” with the potential of providing more accurate information than traditional eye witnesses [1]...In this letter, we add some of these missing dimensions to the proposals made by Kayser, embedding our response to his paper into a wider discourse of forensic genetics studies, and addressing the wider community of forensic geneticists, practitioners and policy makers.

Tijdspraktijken: DNA en de on/onderbroken stad

DNA is niet meer weg te denken uit het dagelijks leven. Het speelt een steeds groter wordende rol in medische en wetenschappelijke praktijken en figureert daarnaast steeds vaker als technologie om de identiteit van individuen of populaties te kennen. De laatste jaren zien we tevens dat DNA betrokken raakt bij de vorming van stadsidentiteiten. Dit artikel bestudeert een opmerkelijke samenwerking tussen genetici, archeologen en een stadsarchivaris en analyseert hoe de identiteit van de stad Vlaardingen opnieuw vorm krijgt. We volgen de zoektocht naar de ‘oer-Vlaardinger’ en onderzoeken de wijze waarop een DNA-match zowel een afstand van duizend jaar tenietdoet als een chronologische temporaliteit tot stand brengt. DNA helpt de tijd te vouwen en te ontvouwen. Door DNA te situeren en te volgen in specifieke praktijken wordt zichtbaar dat DNA hier niet zo zeer figureert als een biologische essentie, maar eerder als een technologie om temporele afstand en nabijheid te creeren. We laten daarmee zien dat identiteiten geen inherente essentie of kern hebben maar relationeel en door technologie bemiddeld zijn.

YseX Is a Matter of Concern Rather Than a Matter of Fact [Review of: S.S. Richardson (2013) Sex itself: the search for male and female in the human genome]

Richardson explores how gender has helped shape research on sex chromosomes and their effects. Richardson explores how gender has helped shape research on sex chromosomes and their effects.