Articles tagged with Ancient Dna
An international team analyzed genome-wide data from 89 ancient individuals in the central Andes, revealing early genetic distinctions between groups, population mixing, and surprising genetic continuity. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of pre-Columbian Andean civilizations.
Researchers have discovered remarkably well-preserved cartilage cells linked by an intercellular bridge and containing internal dark structures morphologically consistent with chromosomes. The team also found evidence of original molecules preserved in the dinosaur's cartilage, including a reaction to antibodies of Collagen II.
A new study analyzes genome-wide DNA data from 70 ancient individuals, revealing that Sardinian genetic ancestry remained relatively stable until the Iron Age, when Phoenician, Punic, and Roman populations arrived. The research provides insight into the island's unique history and ancestral connections among Mediterranean peoples.
Human consumption and transportation drove Bahamian hutia population growth and distribution, shaping its diversity over 1,000 years. The species' unique genetic similarities between isolated populations suggest intentional human relocation.
A team of international researchers has discovered ancient DNA from West Africa, providing new insights into the deep past of humankind. The study reveals that West Africans are genetically closer to central African hunter-gatherers than Bantu-speakers today.
Researchers have successfully extracted a complete ancient human genome from birch pitch used as 'chewing gum' 5,700 years ago. The findings reveal genetic information about an individual's physical characteristics, including dark skin, hair, and eyes, as well as their diet and oral microbiome.
Research using ancient DNA from German farmsteads (2750 BCE to 1300 BCE) identified a complex family structure and kinship-based social hierarchy, with females often marrying nonlocal men. Wealth and status were inherited by offspring, suggesting social status was passed down through generations.
Researchers sequenced the first genome of an individual from the Harappan civilization, showing that modern people in India are likely descended from this ancient culture. The findings suggest that farming began in South Asia through local hunter-gatherers adopting farming, contradicting previous theories.
A new ancient DNA study reveals the complex origins of populations in Central Asia, combining archaeological and genetic expertise to illustrate nuanced mechanisms of genetic diversity and change. The research, published in Science, is the largest in the world to date and addresses a significant gap in the ancient DNA dataset.
Scientists discovered Toxascaris leonina roundworm eggs in ancient puma coprolite from the Catamarca Province, Argentina, dated between 16,570 and 17,000 years ago. The findings provide evidence of parasites infecting wild mammals before human arrival in the region.
Ancient DNA data from Roopkund Lake reveals diverse groups of people died at the lake in multiple events around 1000 years apart. The study, published in Nature Communications, found three distinct genetic groups among the skeletons, with ancestries related to present-day India, the eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia.
Researchers successfully extracted and sequenced DNA from a 2,500-year-old Creighton's caracara femur, yielding 98.7% of the bird's mitochondrial genome. The findings reveal that the species is closely related to two remaining caracara species alive today.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that ancient bones found in a Finnish lake contain DNA from the modern Sámi people, dating back to around 500-700 AD. The discovery contradicts previous theories about local populations and sheds light on the colonization history of Siberia.
Researchers from McMaster University and the University of Montpellier have reached almost identical results in two separate studies, overturning a longstanding consensus on sloth evolutionary relationships. The combined molecular evidence suggests that ancient sloths may have been at home on both land and in trees.
Researchers discovered oldest Scandinavian human DNA in ancient chewing gums, providing a link between material culture and genetics. The study sheds light on the genetic composition of early Mesolithic populations from Scandinavia.
A 5000-year-old mass grave in southern Poland has been uncovered, revealing the gruesome murder of a large family. Genetic analysis has shown that the victims were related, with mothers and children buried together, suggesting a deep sense of care and unity.
Researchers found that Uralic-speaking people in Northern Europe inherited genetic material from ancient Siberians, arriving by the start of the Iron Age. The study reveals a mix of genetic, archaeological, and linguistic data supporting this theory.
A recent study of ancient DNA from Crusader skeletons confirms they intermingled with local populations, forming families and fighting alongside them. The researchers found that the Crusaders' genetic presence was short-lived, with no lasting impact on Lebanese genetics.
A team of researchers analyzed the DNA of nine 13th-century Crusaders, revealing a genetically diverse group that intermixed with local populations. The findings provide insights into the history of the Crusades and highlight the importance of ancient DNA in understanding historical events.
A recent study in Molecular Biology and Evolution reconstructed artificial genomes with the analyses of 565 contemporary South Asian individuals to extract ancient DNA signals. The researchers found valuable genetic components that allow them to elucidate the genetic composition of ancient populations in the region. Additionally, they ...
Researchers have reconstructed an 8,000-year genetic history of the Iberian Peninsula using ancient DNA from over 270 individuals. The study reveals complex population structures and unexpected interactions with North Africa and the Pontic-Caspian steppe.
The study shows that Iberian male lineages were virtually replaced by newcomers from the Russian steppe between 4,500 and 4,000 years ago. The researchers found a significant influx of new people during the Copper Age, which left an indelible mark on the region's genetic makeup.
Researchers have discovered that Ibiza natives possess a unique genetic signature distinct from the rest of Spain's population. The study suggests that current Ibizans descend from Catalan invaders who repopulated the island from the 13th century, resulting in a genetic anomaly similar to that found among Basques.
Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the US reveal that the African origins of New Zealand's giant extinct adzebill bird were traced to the tiny flufftails found in Madagascar and Africa. Genetic data analysis suggests a close relationship between the adzebills and their living relatives.
Researchers developed a new concept called Ancient Ancestry Informative Markers (aAIMs) that can accurately identify and classify ancient populations. The tool enables testing of an individual's similarity to ancient people from various regions, providing insights into their primeval origins.
A QUT-led collaboration reveals the banded hare-wallaby is the closest living relative of the giant short-faced kangaroos. The study combined DNA evidence with fossil and anatomical data to trace body size change over millions of years.
The study found the earliest evidence of Siberian ancestry in Fennoscandia in a population inhabiting the Kola Peninsula, Russia, dating to around 4,000 years ago. Ancient DNA from Finland reveals that people genetically similar to present-day Saami people inhabited areas in much more southern parts of Finland than the Saami today.
Ancient DNA analysis reveals extinct Jamaican monkey Xenothrix, which diverged from Cheracebus monkeys around 11 million years ago. The study suggests that adaptation can shape species morphology in novel environments, supporting primate colonization of the Caribbean islands.
A study of ancient DNA from 49 individuals in Belize, Brazil, and the Central Andes reveals that most Central and South American ancestry originated from at least three different streams of people entering from North America. The research also detected two previously undocumented genetic exchanges between North and South America.
A study of 22 skeletons found in Israel's Peqi'in Cave reveals a significant ancestry from northerners, similar to those living in Iran and Turkey, contributing to the development of the Chalcolithic culture. The findings suggest that waves of migration played a key role in shaping the unique culture of the region.
New research using ancient DNA from 8,000-year-old skeletons in Southeast Asia has resolved a long-standing controversy about the origins of the region's population. The study found that present-day Southeast Asian populations derive ancestry from at least four ancient populations, contradicting both competing theories.
Researchers have developed a new analytic method, Time Population Structure (TPS), to date ancient DNA by predicting time based on DNA mutations. TPS has shown results similar to traditional radiocarbon dating, with an average difference of 800 years in age predictions for samples up to 45,000 years old.
Ancient DNA analysis of Icelandic populations reveals a strong connection to Scandinavian and British-Irish Isles, whereas modern Icelanders show less similarity. A second study explores the genetics of first Americans, suggesting a deep split in North and South American populations occurred south of the Laurentide ice sheet.
Research suggests that Indigenous peoples in Central and South America retain DNA from the northern branch, which originated from eastern Canada. The study reveals a 'reconvergence' of two ancestral branches around 13,000 years ago.
By analyzing ancient DNA from Southeast Asian individuals, scientists identified two major waves of genetic mixture indicative of specific migration events. These migrations, occurring during the Neolithic period and Bronze Age, reflect the introduction of farming and cultural shifts in the region.
Researchers recover intact human mitochondrial DNA from common type of plant-based artifact, providing insights into the genetic ancestry of Native Americans in the Desert Southwest. The study also sheds light on the Numic Spread event, a contentious debate among scientists.
Researchers must consult with Indigenous communities before analyzing ancient DNA to avoid harming descendants and stigmatizing their communities. Collaboration with communities strengthens analysis and allows for better questions to be asked, guided by community narratives.
DNA analysis of ancient latrines reveals past diets, animal domestication, and hunting practices in Northern Europe and the Middle East from 500 B.C. to 1700 A.D., with parasite eggs reflecting raw or undercooked fish and pork consumption.
Research found that Australian offshore island emus were smaller versions of their mainland relatives and their body size correlated to the size of their inhabited islands. The study analyzed DNA and bone measurements of extinct small emus on King Island, Tasmania, and Kangaroo Island.
A new study using ancient and modern genome-wide data found that Papuan ancestry replaced early Austronesian-Lapita population in Vanuatu, yet the original Austronesian languages persisted. This provides a unique case of demographic history where genetic ancestry but not language was replaced.
The diffusion of bell beakers in continental Europe was driven by the dissemination of ideas rather than migration, according to a recent genetic study. This finding refutes the long-accepted theory that the spread of cultural elements was associated with significant migrant movements.
A new study using ancient DNA analysis has found that human populations have been migrating and mixing extensively throughout history, with the Yamnaya people from Central Asia expanding rapidly to Europe, Britain, and beyond. The research also reveals a biased genetic exchange between farmers and hunter-gatherers in northern Europe.
Researchers discovered evidence of Phoenician settlement and integration with indigenous communities in Monte Sirai, as well as unique mitochondrial lineages indicating female mobility to Sardinia and North Africa. The study provides new insights into the inclusive nature of Phoenician society.
Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from Rapa Nui samples, finding no genetic links to South Americans; instead, they suggest Native American ancestry may be a result of recent history. The study highlights the value of ancient DNA for testing hypotheses about past interactions.
A new study maps the mysterious loss of the Tasmanian tiger from mainland Australia, tracing its history over 30,000 years. Climate change and increased human activity are found to be key causes of extinction, with a large population of thylacines living in western regions until around 3000 years ago.
A large-scale study of ancient human DNA from sub-Saharan Africa has shed light on the identity of prehistoric populations, their movements and genetic adaptations. The research found evidence of a population replacement in Malawi and identified a mysterious group that spanned from southern Africa to the equator.
Researchers reconstructed African population structure using ancient DNA from 15 individuals, revealing a more complex history than previously thought. The findings show that populations related to indigenous people of southern Africa had a wider distribution in the past, contributing to ancestry of modern-day populations.
Researchers found significant ancestry from Western hunter-gatherers and Anatolian farmers in ancient Roman genomes, suggesting multiple admixture events. The study reveals a nuanced and complex relationship between hunter-gatherers and farmers in the Danube basin.
Researchers discovered a 17th-century variola virus in a child mummy, providing a more accurate timeline for the evolution of smallpox. The study suggests that smallpox may have appeared in humans more recently than previously thought, and its evolutionary history was influenced by human migration and colonization.
Scientists have recovered ancient DNA from a West Indian mammal known as the 'Island Murderer,' tracing its evolution back to 70 million years ago. The study sheds light on the impact of humans on recent extinctions in the Caribbean.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of ancient rice DNA, shedding light on the origins of domesticated rice species japonica and indica. The study suggests that indica rice was historically cultivated in East Asia or imported to the region, contradicting traditional assumptions about its exclusive presence in northern parts of East Asia.
A study published in PNAS found that high-altitude Himalayan populations have a remarkably stable genetic make-up despite cultural transitions and outside population exposure. The analysis suggests that these populations originated from East Asia, with genetic stability maintaining across millennia.
A pioneering study reveals how long-distance movements in ancient camel caravan routes shaped the species' genetic diversity. The research combined genetic information from 1,083 living dromedaries with ancient DNA sequences to create an historic genetic picture of the species.
New genetic data shows two major changes in prehistoric human populations, linked to the end of the last Ice Age. The data also reveal mixture with Neanderthals and evidence of natural selection removing Neanderthal ancestry.
A new DNA analysis suggests that North American mammoths interbred more frequently than previously thought, blurring the lines between species. The study found that woolly and Columbian mammoths could produce fertile offspring, contradicting historical notions of separate species.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide used ancient DNA to study the evolution of giant bears in both North and South America. The study found that these bears belonged to a distinct subfamily (Tremarctinae) and had independently evolved from small herbivorous bears.
A recent study published in Science Advances found a striking absence of pre-Columbian genetic lineages in modern Indigenous Americans, suggesting extinction with the arrival of Europeans. The research reconstructed ancient DNA from 92 pre-Columbian mummies and skeletons, revealing a separation that appeared as early as 9000 years ago.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma and Arizona State University demonstrate that dental calculus can be used to recover high-quality genetic information from ancient humans. The study uses advanced sequencing technologies to extract DNA from six individuals, providing new insights into Native American archaeology.
Researchers successfully extracted ancient DNA from a southern African mummy, providing insights into past population dynamics. The analysis revealed genetic ties to the Sotho-Tswana and Khoesan communities, shedding light on the region's cultural heritage.
Glyptodonts likely originated less than 35 million years ago from ancestors within modern armadillo families, contradicting previous assumptions. The close relatives of glyptodonts include giant armadillos and the four-ounce pink fairy armadillo, challenging existing concepts of their distinctiveness.