Interview Transcript
You have said that you felt an obligation to humanity to sequence Anzick-1’s genome, and also to Native American peoples to involve them. Could you describe your feelings behind these statements?
Part of being a scientist is having an inherent quest for knowledge and truth. I found myself in an incredibly unique position, both personally and professionally. Sequencing this ancient individual helped to fulfill that obligation to all peoples, both in terms of understanding who this child was as well as having the rare opportunity to open a window into the ancient past. I had a need to understand who descended from this special child and always felt he was accidentally unearthed, perhaps through fate, to tell his story. For Native peoples, though I did not fully understand the sensitivities during my my initial quest to do the work, I quickly gleaned insight into the various feelings & perspectives, but only through communication and dialog. Engaging people who might be affected in some manner by any scientific discovery is morally the responsible thing to do. In what ways does Anzick-1 lead us to higher ground? Anzick-1 gave us the opportunity for a model of collaboration for the future, a bridging of oftentimes two different worlds. The burial brought people of diverse backgrounds (tribal members, scientists, and locals) together in spirit and celebration, as an opportunity to reunite as one and return this child to his original resting place. What legacy do you think Anzick-1 leaves, both in scientific and Native American communities? The sequencing was the affirmation that Native Americans were the first to populate the North American continent. It also demonstrated the viability of ancient DNA testing and showed Native Americans and scientists can build relationships through dialog, communication, and compromise. |
Sarah Anzick, PhD, is a Senior Research Specialist at Rocky Mountain Laboratories of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health in Hamilton, Montana. Anzick-1 was found on her family's property when she was two years old. When the remains were returned to her family, she worked to sequence Anzick-1's genome. (Anzick, "Genome Sequencing of One of America's Earliest Inhabitants: A Personal Journey.")
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