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Biobanks, which contain human biological samples and/or data, provide a crucial contribution to the progress of biomedical research. However, the effective and efficient use of biobank resources depends on their accessibility. In fact, making bio-resources promptly accessible to everybody may increase the benefits for society. Furthermore, optimizing their use and ensuring their quality will promote scientific creativity and, in general, contribute to the progress of bio-medical research. Although this has become a rather common belief, several laboratories are still secretive and continue to withhold samples and data. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey in order to investigate sample and data accessibility in research biobanks operating all over the world. The survey involved a total of 46 biobanks. Most of them gave permission to access their samples (95.7%) and data (85.4%), but free and unconditioned accessibility seemed not to be common practice. The analysis of the guidelines regarding the accessibility to resources of the biobanks that responded to the survey highlights three issues: (i) the request for applicants to explain what they would like to do with the resources requested; (ii) the role of funding, public or private, in the establishment of fruitful collaborations between biobanks and research labs; (iii) the request of co-authorship in order to give access to their data. These results suggest that economic and academic aspects are involved in determining the extent of sample and data sharing stored in biobanks. As a second step of this study, we investigated the reasons behind the high diversity of requirements to access biobank resources. The analysis of informative answers suggested that the different modalities of resource accessibility seem to be largely influenced by both social context and legislation of the countries where the biobanks operate.

Background: This research investigated the knowledge of the complex concept of evolution in a sample (n=1108) of final-year high school students of Rome. Particular attention was given to the evolution of Homo sapiens and to human diversity at the biological and cultural level. Obtained results were analysed in relation to the socio-cultural context of the students. The final objective of the research is to provide teachers, curriculum developers and policy makers with results on basic knowledge on evolution and human diversity of students who are to face the University. Methods: The research was conducted using an ad hoc questionnaire in five scientific (Liceo scientifico) and four humanistic (Liceo classico) high schools of Rome. The research involved the final-year students, those who are supposed to have a global basic knowledge of cultural and biological aspects of the evolutionary theory. The research project, its aims and modes of realisation were presented and discussed in detail with Deans, teachers and students of the Institutions that volunteered to participate. Results: The results show: (1) good knowledge and substantial acceptance of the evolutionary perspective; (2) that cultural and biological diversity are considered as decisive factors in modelling the present-day differences between human groups; (3) that, nonetheless, more than half the students still hold to a classificatory conception of human populations; (4) that the family cultural background is significantly relevant in the education of children.

1Biobanks hold human biological samples and/or data giving a crucial contribution to the progress 2 of biomedical research. However, the effective and efficient exploitation of these resources 3 depends on their accessibility. In fact, making bio-resources promptly accessible to all, can 4 favour collaboration among research groups as well as multidisciplinarity. Although this has 5 become a rather common belief, several laboratories still apply secrecy and withholding of 6 samples and data. In this study we conducted a questionnaire based survey in order to investigate 7 sample and data accessibility in research biobanks operating all over the world. 46 out of the 238 8 contacted biobanks have decided to participate. Most of them provide permission to access their 9 samples (95.7%) and data (85.4%), but free and unconditioned accessibility seems not to be a 10 common practice. The analysis of the biobanks guidelines regarding the accessibility of their 11 resources reveal the importance of three aspects: (i) request for applicants to explain what they 12 would like to do with the required resources; (ii) the role of funding, public or private, in the 13 establishment of fruitful collaborations between biobanks and research labs; (iii) request of co-14 authorship in order to give access to their data. These results suggest that economic and academic 15 aspects are involved in determining the extent of sharing of samples and data stored in biobanks. 16As a second step of this study, we investigated the reasons behind the high diversity of the 17 requirements for accessing to biobanks' resources. The analysis of informative answers suggested 18 that the different modalities of resource accessibility seem to be largely influenced by both social 19 context and legislation of the countries where biobanks operate. 20 21Keywords: open science, data sharing, human subjects, research ethics, biorepository. 22 23PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1212v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access |

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