Uncovering Genetic History Across African American Burial Sites to Inform Health
with Dr. Carter Clinton from NC State University
Abstract: Our research explores the genetic history of African American communities by studying remains from historical burial sites, starting with a pilot at the New York African Burial Ground and expanding to others like Hillsborough, North Carolina. Using minimally invasive methods, we extract DNA from teeth and soil to better understand the genetic identity and health patterns of African Americans over time. Our goal is to shed light on how historical factors, such as slavery and structural racism, have influenced modern health outcomes in African American populations.
African Americans are often underrepresented in genetic studies, limiting what we know about their genetic diversity and predisposition to certain diseases. By studying these burial sites, we aim to fill that gap and uncover how lifestyle and environmental conditions over centuries have affected genetic health. This knowledge can lead to more effective public health strategies and personalized medicine for African Americans today.
A crucial part of this project is working closely with local communities, including descendants of those buried at these sites. By involving them from the research design to the sharing of results, we ensure the research is respectful, ethical, and transparent. This partnership helps build trust, addresses historical injustices, and sets new standards for future research with marginalized communities.
About Dr. Carter:
Dr. Carter Clinton, a genetic anthropologist, is an Assistant Professor at NC State University and National Geographic Explorer. Previously, he conducted postdoctoral research at Pennsylvania State University in the Departments of Anthropology and Biology. He received his Ph.D. from Howard University, where he served as the Assistant Curator of the W. Montague Cobb Research Laboratory.
During his graduate career, Dr. Clinton focused on exploring the lifestyles and causes of death of the 17th and 18th Century New York African Burial Ground population, a community of free and enslaved Africans in present-day Manhattan. He developed an innovative protocol through soil chemistry, human microbiome, and bioethical analyses, enabling the non-destructive investigation of historical populations without disturbing their remains.
Presently, Dr. Clinton extends his research to living African American communities, utilizing genomic databases to explore African diversity. His work aims to identify ancestry-derived disease phenotypes responsible for complex diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. Moreover, his efforts extend to studying unidentified historic African peoples of the diaspora to bridge the genetic identity gaps created by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Dr. Clinton's ultimate objective is to deepen our understanding of the genomic makeup and ancestries of living African Americans, contributing to cultural empowerment and a deeper global connection. His vision seeks to address health disparities, understand disease susceptibilities with the possibility of future prevention, and diversify genomic research. In doing so, he is paving the way for making precision medicine more accessible and tailored for everyone, fulfilling a pressing need in the realm of health sciences.
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