A new generation of indigenous scientists is teaming up with communities, instead of treating them like guinea pigs.

The Summer Internship for Native Americans in Genomics (SING) is a University workshop aiming to get more Native American scholars, students and community members interested in genomic studies, and to counteract the underrepresented status of Native Americans in genomic and science-based careers.

New programs, such as the Summer Internship for Native Americans in Genomics at the University of Illinois, are giving Native Americans training that they can use to study their own history.

It is becoming increasingly important to have indigenous scientists and ethicists at the forefront of genomics who can bring their cultural perspectives and values to the sciences and also translate the science back to their communities.

We have a diversity problem in the field of human genetics. Less than 1 percent of the Ph.D.s in fields related to human genetic research go to Native Americans, and, according to Dr. Kim Tallbear of the University of Texas, they make up less than one fifth of 1 percent of the members of the American Society of Human Genetics.

More than a dozen Native American scholars from across North America were on the University of Illinois campus this week to learn about the science behind extracting and analyzing DNA of indigenous people, as well as the ethical and legal issues involved.

Native and non-Native scholars working in genomics and bioethics research gathered June 10-16 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the Summer Internship for Native Americans in Genomics. Ripan Malhi, assistant professor of anthropology, said the summer program was started because of the lack of Native American scientists in genome sciences.

A weeklong program for Native Americans in genomics included everything from learning to do DNA extraction and genotyping to a discussion about integrating indigenous and scientific ideas and values. But by far the most powerful outcome was a lasting bond between 12 participants and seven faculty, all Native Americans from around the United States and Canada.

Genetics research has been heralded for its potential to fight disease and understand human history. Since scientists mapped the human genome in 2003, however, the hard part has been building relationships in which people are comfortable turning over their DNA for research.