ELSI Friday Forum

ELSI Friday Forum | April 10th, 2026 | 12PM ET/ 9AM PT via Zoom
Uncovering the Past Responsibly: Exploring Ethical Challenges and Recommendations of Ancient DNA Research

Speakers: Jada Benn Torres, PhD, Kathrin Nägele, PhD
Moderator: Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD

Ancient DNA research is transforming how scholars reconstruct population histories, yet these tools operate within scientific and political landscapes that shape whose ancestors are studied, how consent is interpreted, and which communities bear the consequences of genomic discovery. When genetic data are drawn from ancestral remains, questions of privacy, cultural authority, and descendant impact become central rather than peripheral. Without careful governance, ancient DNA research risks reinscribing historical harms, marginalizing community knowledge, and obscuring the lived realities of those most connected to the past.

This forum examines how ancient DNA research can be conducted in ways that center ethical responsibility, community partnership, and transparency. Drawing on community‑engaged genetic anthropology, archaeogenetics, and legal‑ethical analysis, it identifies evidence‑based strategies for responsible research design, data stewardship, and descendant engagement. Featuring Jada Benn Torres, PhD, and Kathrin Nägele, PhD, and moderated by Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, the discussion will explore key questions: How should consent be understood for ancestral remains? What obligations do researchers hold toward living relatives? How can communities shape research priorities? And what frameworks ensure that ancient DNA research advances knowledge without perpetuating structural harm.