Finally, translational genomic research takes place within a framework of moral norms, professional codes, institutional procedures, and public policies that govern research with human beings. This framework influences the ways in which human DNA samples can be obtained and used in translational genomic research projects, potentially affecting their ability to illuminate human genomic variation and expression. But abiding by the rules that govern the approval and regulation of translational genomic research is not straightforward. For the institutional committees that oversee this research and the scientists who design and conduct it, the interpretation of our research ethics conventions, codes, and regulations poses an array of specific normative questions about how best to proceed with research recruitment, obtain informed consent, protect data confidentiality, and address the disclosure and publication of results.
