Ethics of DNA Research on Human Remains: Five Globally Applicable Guidelines

Abstract

We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators, and geneticists representing 24 countries and diverse global communities, most of whom met in November 2020 in a virtual workshop dedicated to ethics in ancient DNA research. There was widespread agreement that globally applicable ethical guidelines are needed, but that recent recommendations grounded in discussion about research on human remains from North America are not always generalizable worldwide. After considering diverse contexts, we developed a set of globally applicable guidelines. These hold that: 1) researchers must ensure that all regulations were followed in the places where they work and from which the human remains derived; 2) researchers must prepare a detailed plan prior to beginning any study; 3) researchers must minimize damage to human remains; 4) researchers must ensure that data are made available following publication to allow critical reexamination of scientific findings; and 5) researchers must engage with other stakeholders from the beginning of a study and ensure respect and sensitivity to stakeholder perspectives. We commit to adhering to these guidelines and expect they will promote a high ethical standard going forward.