Introduction: Providing a Venue for Influential Research in Anthropological Genomics

We would like to thank the previous editorial team of Human Biology for improving the journal in numerous ways. By decreasing the review period to three months and over doubling the impact factor, Franz Manni and his team placed the journal back on a track of success. Since taking over the editorship almost a year ago, we have put in place an online infrastructure to build on the momentum gained by the previous editors. In addition, we have recruited and put into place a truly exceptional editorial team, with associate editors performing research in anthropological genetics and genomics at the highest levels and who are also very dedicated to the success of the journal.

While Human Biology continues to publish important work in anthropological, quantitative, evolutionary and population genetics and genomics, we are repositioning the journal to also include ethical and social implications of human genetic and genomic research. Thus, moving the articles published in the Journal to be more representative of research conducted by members of the American Association of Anthropological Geneticists (AAAG), the educational and scientific organization of which Human Biology is the official publication.

With the existing infrastructure in place, we aim to build on previous success with the reduction in time for the review period to three months, to having the entire process—from submission to online publication—occur in three months.

We have also added new submission categories to the journal. A category entitled Resources consists of newly developed software programs, online databases, and other resources for researchers engaged in anthropological genetics and genomics. A second new submission category, entitled Media Response, is a forum that allows discussion of news stories on genomics, often written with minimal to no peer review, but is the primary conduit of anthropological genomics research to the general public.

To represent the repositioning and added dimensions of the journal, in collaboration with Wayne State University Press, we have redesigned Human Biology starting with volume 86. We anticipate the new infrastructure, repositioning, and look of Human Biology will assist the journal in providing a venue for a steady stream of influential research in anthropological genetics and genomics.