Francisco M. Salzano is Emeritus Professor of Genetics at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and is one of the most eminent geneticists in Latin America working in the field of anthropology. While his main scientific interest is in human population genetics, his research also covers medical, animal and plant genetics. He has previously published a number of influential works in both English and Portuguese and has received several awards including the Almirante Alvaro Alberto National Prize and the Franz Boas High Achievement Award of the Human Biology Association.