This commentary represents the response of the ASHG to the various charges against a major, widely honored figure who was a former president and Allan Award winner of our society. The ASHG inquiry finds these allegations to be gross mispresentations and basically false.

provided central coordination and logistical support. have broad experience in human and medical genetics and are well acquainted with Neel’s view of the world and approaches to genetic problems. was a coprincipal investigator and Neel’s close collaborator in population genetics, including the Amazonian studies. are geneticists/lawyers with expertise in consent issues related to field work. is an infectious disease specialist, M.C.K. and L.R.W.) had participated in other expeditions of the project. The committee included a member of the 1968 Neel expedition during which measles occurred (R.H.W.). These charges relate to field studies among the Yanomami in the Amazon during the 1960s. The 2000 President (R.G.W.) of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) appointed a committee* to examine the widely publicized allegations by journalist Patrick Tierney against the recently deceased James V.

Napoleon chagnon