Bioethics and Ancient DNA Course

I was so lucky to teach this course at the University of Chicago during my postdoc there. It was, in part, based on a course I developed and co-taught with Nasa Sinnott Armstong during our PhD program. I learned so much from the course participants and our discussions and I very much look forward to teaching it again in the future!

Course Description: 

The first ancient human genome was sequenced just over 10 years ago. From a single genome in 2010 to what has been hailed as a “scientific revolution” today, the field of archaeogenetics has expanded rapidly. In this course, we will explore how the field is grappling with emerging issues related to ethical and responsible research, including sampling practices, collaborative community partnerships, and accessibility of research findings to the broader public. How have researchers successfully leveraged multiple voices, perspectives, and priorities engaged with ancient DNA to explore the human past? What are the possibilities of engagement beyond the practical and project-based level? How do these new alliances formed around archaeogenetics inform the ethics of sampling, participation, and interpretation? In this course, we will thoughtfully and critically engage with aDNA research in the present to envision possible futures for the field.