This issue of Archaeological dialogues features a discussion article by Kristian Kristiansen on the widening theoretical gap in archaeology between people focusing on ‘genes’ and those on ‘agents’. Kristiansen's thought-provoking essay is flanked by comments from Ulrich Veit, Stephen Shennan and John Robb. We believe that the question is a broad one that merits further and open debate. Readers are therefore invited to participate in this discussion and send us their reactions in the format of a discussion comment (maximum 2,500 words). As Archaeological dialogues continues to be a journal for debating archaeology, we very much welcome your comments.