How the Atacama Skeleton Might Advance Discussion of Responsible Conduct of Research Responsibilities

Controversies resulting from genetic testing on skeletal remains of disputed stewardship raise important questions about obligations inherent on genetic researchers to assure ethical chain of custody. In this article, we analyze and evaluate several proposed positions on whether such research should be published. Following jurisprudential standards for legitimate regulatory systems, we argue that responsible conduct of research requires reasonable attention to chain of custody but cannot require guarantees, particularly in cases of ancient remains.