Geneticization in the genomic era: a scoping review of ethical, clinical, and sociocultural transformations

Geneticization is a concept originally introduced by Abby Lippman to critique the growing dominance of genetic explanations in health, identity, and society. Over the decades, the notion of geneticization has undergone significant development across various academic fields including sociology, bioethics, clinical medicine, and cultural studies, highlighting its broad relevance and impact on multiple areas of research. We conducted a scoping review of 25 peer-reviewed studies from 2011 and 2024, to investigate how the concept has been taken up, redefined, and challenged across multiple disciplines. Guided by two central research questions: (1) What are the prevailing themes surrounding geneticization in recent scholarship? and (2) To what extent do Lippman’s original concerns remain relevant? the review synthesizes insights from these studies, categorizing them across sociological, clinical, and ethical dimensions. Findings reveal a shift from deterministic framings toward more complex understandings, such as enlightened geneticization, biosociality, and biological citizenship, which highlight individuals’ agency in interpreting genetic information. At the same time, the review identifies ongoing risks of genetic reductionism in areas such as race, identity, reproduction, and education. The results underscore that while the term “geneticization” has evolved in both use and meaning, it remains a critical analytical lens for evaluating the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetic technologies. The review concludes by emphasizing the continued relevance of interdisciplinary inquiry and ethical vigilance in the genomic era.