Comment on data sharing in biological anthropology

作者：Steven R. Leigh · 发表于：American Journal of Physical Anthropology · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.1002/ajpa.24073 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Race, Genetics, and Society、Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies、Forensic and Genetic Research

Turner and Mulligan's contribution regarding data sharing in biological anthropology (Turner & Mulligan, 2019) offers sound and timely guidance on a major set or issues in our field. The authors, on behalf of both an AAPA ad hoc committee on data access as well as a workshop group, provide guidance on a number of significant issues regarding data in our field. The investments by these groups are welcome, and key to advancing our field. The contribution has important implications in several areas. First, Turner and Mulligan emphasize that data in biological anthropology “often represent unique evolutionary, ecological, and cultural histories” (Turner & Mulligan, 2019, p. 1). This point is critical scientifically, because it conditions how we approach problems. Subjects of study in biological anthropology typically represent contingent phenomena (Cartmill, 1991), and our understanding of these contingencies depends on our ability to recognize and interpret unique histories. More practically, this means that biological anthropologists must understand data sets that have dissimilar origins and histories. Researchers in our field must think beyond both their own specific research projects and singular problem areas. Turner and Mulligan's efforts significantly advance our appreciation of these problems, and are important steps toward solutions, both theoretically and practically. Second, our field, like many others, now works with truly colossal data sets across disciplines (with t...