About this Research Topic
This research topic will address the variation in how populations might be delimited or described, as well as in the notion of the “origins” of some populations. This group of papers should explore topics related to how human variation is, has been, or should be conceptualized in health, disease, history, and evolution. It will examine how classifications are made and the problems that have arisen because of these received classifications (both social and scientific). Discussions of bias and how it has led to the poor practice of science or problematic conclusions, are of interest including persisting legacies that may not be well known. Categorical/typological thinking can be addressed. This topic welcomes manuscripts that address the problems of whether samples are accurate representations of larger populations that may be identified with a particular name. Also of interest are whether the individuals of a region may be more similar in epigenetics due to common experience than genealogical ancestry: this has implications for other sample construction. There is also the issue of the age of the units of study. The editor invites suggestions for new language and ways to describe populations and designating variation.
Article types may include: Brief Research Report, Correction, Data Report, General Commentary, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Mini-Review, Original Research, Perspective, Policy and Practice Reviews, Review, Systematic Review
Keywords: Taxonomy, race, health, disease, evolution, population history
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.