Beyond Human Hands: The Rise of Agentic AI and the Redefinition of Scientific Authorship, Peer Review, and Research Integrity

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a passive tool in research—it is increasingly participating in the scientific process. Recent developments in agentic AI—systems capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous decision-making—are reshaping how science is conducted. From drafting manuscripts and reviewing grant proposals to designing experiments and analyzing genetic data, AI is entering roles traditionally reserved for human researchers.

For example, AI systems have already been used to co-write sections of genomics papers and propose experimental methods in drug discovery—raising critical questions about responsibility, integrity, and authorship.

These developments demand urgent ethical, legal, and social reflection. Nowhere is this more important than in genetics and biomedical research, where the stakes are high, and public trust is essential.

This Research Topic invites original research that explores how agentic AI is transforming research in science and genetics. We particularly welcome contributions from researchers of diverse disciplinary, geographic, and cultural backgrounds, and from scholars at all career stages, including early-career researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students.

This is a deeply interdisciplinary issue. We invite submissions from bioethics, law, science and technology studies (STS), philosophy, education, sociology, public policy, computational sciences, and the life sciences. Whether your work is empirical, conceptual, speculative, or practice-based, your insights are essential.

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Ethical Considerations
• Redefining authorship and credit in AI-assisted scientific writing

• Risks of fabrication, bias, or plagiarism in AI-generated content

• The ethics of AI involvement in peer review and grant evaluation

• Balancing human judgment and AI autonomy in scientific reasoning

Legal and Regulatory Dimensions
• Copyright and intellectual property rights for AI-generated outputs

• Legal liability in cases of AI-driven error or misconduct

• Evolving regulatory frameworks for AI in science and education

• Disclosure requirements for AI involvement in research outputs

Social and Institutional Impacts
• Equity and access: will AI amplify global disparities in research?

• Implications for education and mentorship of early-career researchers

• Shifts in power dynamics between researchers, AI tools, and institutions

• Public trust in AI-generated results, especially in high-stakes fields like gene editing and predictive medicine

Genetics-Specific Challenges
• AI’s role in shaping genomic study design, interpretation, and publication

• Responsible AI use in ethically sensitive areas such as CRISPR or personalized medicine

• Automation of sensitive genetic data analysis: benefits and ethical dilemmas

Governance and Future Directions
• Frameworks for responsible innovation and anticipatory governance

• Institutional policies for transparency, consent, and accountability

• The role of journals, funders, and professional societies in setting norms

We encourage submissions that use diverse methods—such as normative analysis, policy critique, speculative design, or participatory research. Your work can help build a future in which AI enhances, rather than undermines, the integrity, equity, and societal value of science.