Given its current preeminence, the "new genetics" affords the creation of new identities among social and even national groups. Genetic narratives interact with historical and social narratives; that which is extremely new (genomics) touches, interacts with, and in many cases grates against that which is old (race and typologies). The interpretation of genetic data from studies conducted in Brazil has recently triggered debates among biologists, social scientists, social movements, and other actors, debates which are analyzed in this article. The findings and implications of this research ("Molecular Portrait of Brazil") go beyond the academy, serving as a battleground that includes activists from Brazil's black movement and even members of far-right European groups, for example. A contextualized analysis of these debates proves helpful in better understanding the overlappings between anthropology, genetics, and society in today's world.
genetics; race; black movement; far right; social thought; ethnicity