Ancient DNA studies: Use of ethnonyms and collaborative research in South America

Rocca, Francisco Di Fabio; Russo, María Gabriela; Arencibia, Valeria; Seldes, Verónica

doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2020.101265

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…We agreed on the importance of treating human remains with due respect (Aranda et al, 2014). We also subscribe to existing guidelines on ethics and social issues of aDNA studies (e.g., Ávila‐Arcos et al, 2022; Bolnick et al, 2016; Di Fabio Rocca et al, 2021; Tsosie et al, 2020; Wagner et al, 2020). Therefore, we kept a photographic record of all the teeth processed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, we used the smallest amount of material necessary for analyses. In this study, we did not use any ethnonym or essentialized label to name the individuals (Di Fabio Rocca et al, 2021), and are committed to clear and responsible communication of the genetic results, which is only one of the many ways of addressing knowledge about indigenous peoples.…”

Section: Ethics Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ancient mitochondrial genome diversity in South America: Contributions from Quebrada del Toro, Northwestern Argentina

Russo,

Arencibia,

Emery

et al. 2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Objectives: The objective of this study was to enhance our understanding of the population history in South America, specifically Northwestern Argentina, by analyzing complete ancient mitogenomes of individuals from the Ojo de Agua archeological site (970 BP) in Quebrada del Toro (Salta, Argentina). Materials and Methods:We analyzed teeth from four individuals from the site Ojo de Agua (970 ± 60 BP), located in Quebrada del Toro (Andean region of Northwestern Argentina). DNA extracts were converted to double-stranded DNA libraries and indexed using unique dual-indexing primer combinations. DNA libraries were then enriched for the complete mitochondrial genome, pooled at equimolar concentrations, and sequenced on an Illumina ® MiSeq™ platform. Reads from high quality libraries were trimmed, merged, and then mapped to the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence. The aDNA damage patterns were assessed and contamination estimated. Finally, variants were called, filtered, and the consensus mitogenome was constructed and used for haplogroup assignment. We also compiled available mitogenome sequences from ancient and present-day populations from the Southcentral Andes and other surrounding regions in Argentina. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic reconstructions were obtained using the generated dataset.Results: We successfully obtained the complete mitogenome sequence from one individual with an average depth coverage of 102X. We discovered a novel haplotype that was assigned to haplogroup D1. Phylogenetic reconstructions suggests that this haplotype falls within the sister branches of the D1j lineage, forming a wellsupported clade. The estimate TMRCA of this clade that includes D1j and its sister branches ranged between 12,535 and 18,669 ya. Discussion:The sequence analyzed in this study represents the first ancient mitogenome from within the valley region in Northwestern Argentina. We found that a representative of a lineage highly associated with D1j was already present approximately 1000 BP in the region. Our results agree with the proposed origin of D1j in other regions north of Patagonia and independent of the Pacific coast fast migratory route,

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ethics Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient mitochondrial genome diversity in South America: Contributions from Quebrada del Toro, Northwestern Argentina

Russo,

Arencibia,

Emery

et al. 2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Self Cite

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“…However, this increased technological and analytic capacity has not been separate from the problematic histories and practices in the fields of human evolution, biological anthropology, and archaeology and may have even amplified colonialist, discriminatory, and nepotistic practices (Bardill et al 2018;Bolnick 2016;Cortez et al 2021;Fox and Hawks 2019;Wagner et al 2020). The problematic aspects of aDNA research are centered on the use and abuse of samples; ethical, moral, and legal obligations; formal recognition of and consultation with all stakeholders; respect for diverse cultural considerations; engagement of local communities in research; support of local capabilities/capacities; coauthorship and copresentation; and plans for long-term responsibility and stewardship with the descendent, affiliated, or stakeholder communities (Bardill et al 2018;Di Fabio Rocca et al 2021;Wagner et al 2020; see also Urassa et al 2021).…”

Section: Adna Research In Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Take, for example, the recent overview of sixtyeight aDNA studies (published between 1994 and 2018) involving samples from South America. Di Fabio Rocca et al (2021) found that 44 percent of the publications included no information on the permits granted for analysis and 49 percent had no information on the custody of the human remains. In 24 percent of the articles where no direct reference to permits was made, there was the statement that "local" museums, institutions, and/or researchers "provided" or "facilitated" the samples.…”

Section: Adna Research In Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing asymmetries and praxis in aDNA research: A bioanthropological critique

Argüelles

Fuentes

Yáñez

2022

American Anthropologist

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Recent developments in molecular-biology-oriented studies regarding ancient DNA (aDNA) from human remains have brought into the contemporary discussions within archaeologists, bioanthropologists, and geneticists a set of disputes, tensions, and collaborations that need to be analyzed in practical and epistemological terms. We emphasize the relevance that techno-scientific collaborations have in this context focused mainly on human evolution and the peopling of the world. These international academic collaborations constitute an ecology in which aDNA studies are currently being worked out. An ecosystem that reproduces the geo-political-economic asymmetries within science, and more specifically in aDNA research, which in turn opens the possibility for thinking from an ethical and epistemological perspective about the economic and power differentials and imbalances of these asymmetric relationships. We argue for building a critical conceptual tool kit in order to tackle the problematics emerging from such investigations. We propose and define three core concepts: academic sovereignty, sustainability, and intermediary. Additionally, we offer the term academic vulnerability as a consequence of cultural vulnerability. The frame we offer here provides a structure to interrogate the dynamics of vulnerabilities in the current context of scientific praxis within aDNA research and illustrate the interplay between hegemonic science and the heritage of developing countries.

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“…Ethical discussions of genetic research on Ancestors of Indigenous populations have in fact been a subject of debate since the early days of the aDNA field (Harry, 2009; Kaestle & Horsburgh, 2002; O'Rourke et al, 2005; Sealy, 2003). With the development of new technologies and the reduction of DNA sequencing costs, aDNA studies have expanded their geographic coverage, and with it, the ethical concerns surrounding the subject, as we can see from the emerging body of literature (Alpaslan‐Roodenberg et al, 2021; Ávila‐Arcos et al, 2022; Bardill et al, 2018; Cortez et al, 2021; di Fabio Rocca et al, 2021; Fleskes et al, 2022; Fox & Hawks, 2019; Haelewaters et al, 2021; Heidt, 2022; Somel et al, 2021; Tsosie et al, 2020; Tsosie et al, 2021; Wagner et al, 2020; Wolinsky, 2019; Yáñez et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards an ethical and legal framework in archeogenomics: A local case in the Atlantic coast of central Patagonia

Tamburrini,

Dahinten,

Saihueque

et al. 2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Ethical discussions around ancient DNA (aDNA) research predate the technological breakthroughs that led to the accelerated generation of ancient genomic data, revealing a long‐due need to address these aspects in the field. Given the diverse conflicts that genomics has raised towards the communities associated with the Non‐living Human Ancestors under study, it has been suggested that the ethical and legal implications of genetically studying present‐day and ancient human populations should be considered case‐by‐case. Nevertheless, the discussions have focused on US and European perspectives. To contribute from a local and Latin American position to the problem, we present the history of consensus and disagreement of the relationships between scientists and Indigenous communities of the Atlantic coast of the central Argentinian Patagonia. We describe how these relationships resulted in the approval of a groundbreaking provincial law that acknowledges the Indigenous community's right to be involved in decision‐making concerning their Ancestors. In addition, we emphasize how these established relationships allowed the development of aDNA studies. With this background, we address the main ethical concerns of genomic studies of Ancestors identified in the reference literature and commit to applying some of the recommendations suggested in those ethical guidelines. Then, we reflect on possible negative consequences of ongoing research and propose some suggestions based on personal experiences that will contribute to moving the ethical field towards a more contextualized science with a local perspective.

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Ancient DNA studies: Use of ethnonyms and collaborative research in South America

Cited by 6 publications

References 53 publications

Ancient mitochondrial genome diversity in South America: Contributions from Quebrada del Toro, Northwestern Argentina

Ancient mitochondrial genome diversity in South America: Contributions from Quebrada del Toro, Northwestern Argentina

Analyzing asymmetries and praxis in aDNA research: A bioanthropological critique

Towards an ethical and legal framework in archeogenomics: A local case in the Atlantic coast of central Patagonia

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