Gene expression convergence across species: Decoding evolutionary homology and its ethical implications for biomedical research paradigms
Original framing: “The 'shape' of gene expression: Identifying genes that may share roles across species” — Phys.org
Indigenous knowledge systems reject the reductionist framework of cross-species gene expression analysis, instead emphasizing the moral and spiritual obligations to all living beings. For example, the *Anishinaabe* concept of *Mino-Bimaadiziwin* (the Good Life) underscores harmony with nature, where reproductive health is not isolated to human or animal biology but part of a holistic ecosystem. This perspective critiques the Western separation of 'human' and 'animal' genes, instead viewing them as interconnected threads in a single tapestry of life. The omission of such frameworks in this narrative erases the possibility of alternative ethical and scientific approaches to gene expression research.
The narrative’s focus on 'gene expression convergence' across species obscures the deeper structural issue of how biomedical research perpetuates a colonial logic of extraction, where non-human species are treated as disposable proxies for human health.
This framing ignores the ethical and epistemological limits of cross-species extrapolation, particularly for germ cell development, where evolutionary divergence undermines translational relevance. The historical precedent of speciesism in science—rooted in colonial practices of exploitation—shapes contemporary research paradigms, where institutions like universities and pharmaceutical companies profit from animal-model dependency while avoiding accountability for harm. Indigenous knowledge systems, such as *whakapapa* or *Mino-Bimaadiziwin*, offer alternative frameworks that view species interdependence as sacred, not exploitable, challenging the Western separation of 'human' and 'animal' genes. Marginalized voices, including animal rights activists and bioethicists of color, further critique this hierarchy, arguing that research practices must align with principles of reciprocity rather than extraction. Future modelling should prioritize ethical scenario planning, integrating synthetic biology and Indigenous-led bioethics to redefine the boundaries of biomedical research. Without addressing these systemic issues, the 'convergence' of gene expression remains a one-way street from mice to humans, reinforcing rather than dismantling the very power structures that justify species exploitation.