The Role of Genetics and the Environment on Human Variation

Dear Colleagues,

A thorough understanding of human variation is central to all aspects of forensic anthropology. The intersection of evolutionary theory and forensic anthropology is critical to consider when conducting casework and methodological research. However, the role of genetic and environmental forces on the human skeleton, their impact on human variation and our work in applying these concepts in forensic anthropology is often not considered in casework.

This Special Issue compiles new research and broad perspectives on genetic and environmental forces and their influence on biological expressions in the human body. Environmental factors may include any physical environmental conditions, pollutants, geographic location, socioeconomic factors, medical interventions, nutrition and lifestyle, lived experiences, and other internal and external variables that have the potential to affect the aspects of human biology that are foundational to our casework methods, such as growth and development, timing of sexual maturation and bone characteristics throughout life.

The significance of these environmental factors and the impact of a deeper understanding of their effects on human biology provides an important opportunity for forensic anthropology to be a thought leader on this subject. For this reason, this issue also looks beyond the expected boundaries of forensic anthropology to capture the implications of this research for other areas of human biosocial sciences.

Manuscripts related to the following topics are welcome in this Special Issue:

1. Theoretical pieces on genetic and environmental forces influencing human variation;
2. Theoretical pieces on the inclusion of genetic and environmental variables on perspectives and practice in forensic anthropology;
3. Theoretical pieces and research on conducting skeletal analyses considering all body systems as an integrated and dynamic system;
4. Data-driven papers on the influence of genetic and/or environmental variables on methodology used in the biological profile in forensic anthropology;
5. Research on genetic and/or environmental variables on patterns of human variation in the cranial and postcranial skeleton;
6. Research on genetic and/or environmental variables on growth and development, timing of sexual maturation or bone characteristics/quality throughout life;
7. Theoretical or applied research papers that underscore the broader (muti- or other disciplinary) impacts of understanding the effects of genetic and environmental factors on human biology from the lens of forensic anthropology.

Dr. Bridget Algee-Hewitt
Dr. Kelly Kamnikar
Dr. Amber Plemons
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forensic Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• genetic & skeletal variation
• forensic anthropology
• genetic and environmental variables