What Do the British and Chinese Governing Visions on Human Genomic Research Tell Us about Biosovereignty?

Genomic research lies at the core of national bioeconomies and is a strategic area for national scientific competitiveness. Drawing on the UK’s latest national vision on genomic research and my participation in one of China’s policy consultations on its implementing rules on human genetic resources, this paper demonstrates how China’s conception of ‘biosovereignty’ may be counterproductive, both to its scientific competitiveness and to the health of its people. The key argument is that ‘biosovereignty’ is not a property of an individual, a community, or an institution. Rather it is a powerful assemblage of ideals, infrastructures and network of capitals that steers our collective future. It is simultaneously a social contract and a social construct, both of which are evolving with socio-technical realities. The paper provokes reflections on the role of the state in promoting equitable genomic research and the question on what ‘biosovereignty’ means and how it should be represented.