All articles tagged with #paleogenomics
Researchers analyzing 12,000-year-old remains of a mother and child from southern Italy used paleogenomics to diagnose acromesomelic dysplasia, identifying an NPR2 gene variant and making it the oldest DNA-confirmed genetic diagnosis in humans.
Researchers recovered TE1-3, the oldest Treponema pallidum genome, from a 5,500-year-old skeleton in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia, pushing the bacterium’s presence in the Americas back by thousands of years and fueling the argument that syphilis may have originated in the Americas, though the exact origin and transmission routes remain unsettled.
A genomic analysis recovered woolly rhino DNA from the stomach of a mummified ice-age wolf pup dating to about 14,400 years ago in Russia, offering a rare direct glimpse into the species’ gene pool as it was near extinction. The study suggests the woolly rhino’s final decline occurred rapidly after a population collapse likely linked to climate warming, and the sample was initially mistaken for belonging to a cave lion.
Scientists sequenced the woolly rhinoceros genome from tissue preserved in a 14,000-year-old wolf pup’s stomach in Siberian permafrost, marking the first time a genome has been reconstructed from inside another animal. By comparing this genome with other woolly rhino fossils and the Sumatran rhino, researchers found the species remained genetically stable until climate warming ended the last Ice Age, suggesting environmental change—not human hunting—drove extinction. The wolf pups likely died when their den collapsed, and the preserved stomach contents also offer a broader view of their ecosystem.
Scientists sequenced a full woolly rhino genome from the stomach of a 14,400-year-old wolf pup, revealing a genetically healthy population with low inbreeding before a rapid extinction likely caused by late Ice Age warming; comparison with an older rhino genome suggests the end came quickly after climate change, offering insights for modern biodiversity crises.
Italian researchers analyzed DNA from over 1,000 individuals and found that centenarians carry more Western Hunter-Gatherer DNA, particularly the Villabruna cluster from about 14,000 years ago, which is linked to immune response and cellular repair. In a comparison of 333 centenarians and 690 younger adults, those with hunter-gatherer ancestry had about 38% higher odds of living to 100+, with the signal strongest in women. The study suggests ancient genomic patterns may influence aging and inflammaging, though environment and healthcare remain important and further lab work is needed to confirm functional effects.
An Italian study finds centenarians are more likely to carry Western Hunter-Gatherer DNA, with about 38% higher odds of reaching 100, suggesting ancient ancestry may influence aging, but causation isn’t proven and more research is needed.
A French research team used ancient DNA analysis to uncover that bacteria causing typhus, trench fever, paratyphoid, and relapsing fever contributed to the massive death toll of Napoleon's 1812 Russian campaign, revealing how disease played a crucial role in the army's failure.
In a commentary for the 50th anniversary issue of Cell, researchers Fu Qiaomei and E. Andrew Bennett from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology discussed the contribution of paleogenomics to understanding the evolution of modern humans. They highlighted the direct and indirect approaches of studying ancient DNA to identify genetic changes and reconstruct the life history of archaic and early modern human populations. The authors reviewed studies that revealed differences between early modern humans and archaic populations, suggesting that population-level advantages and adaptations to local environments may have contributed to the success and expansion of modern human populations. The commentary integrates the latest findings from ancient DNA with those from paleoanthropology and archaeology, expanding and updating the discussion of human origins.
The field of paleogenomics, which focuses on reconstructing ancient genomes from DNA samples, has revolutionized archaeology. Researchers have made significant advancements in extracting and analyzing ancient DNA, allowing them to reconstruct complete genomes and gain insights into human evolution, migrations, and the origins of diseases. Ancient DNA has revealed the existence of new human species, such as the Denisovans, and provided evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans. The technique has also been used to sequence the DNA of extinct species and track the evolution of diseases. However, the ethical implications of studying ancient DNA and the need for collaboration with descendant communities remain important considerations in this field.
Beth Shapiro, a leading expert on paleogenomics, is working with de-extinction companies like Colossal Biosciences and Revive and Restore to develop technologies that could resurrect extinct traits and help protect vulnerable species of birds. Shapiro's initial work mapping the dodo genome laid the groundwork to bring back a version of it from extinction, and the knowledge gained from de-extinction could help protect species under threat now. However, it is not possible to bring back an identical copy of an extinct species.
Ancient DNA research has made huge leaps forward over the last two decades, allowing scientists to recover very old DNA and push the frontier further. Beth Shapiro, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of California - Santa Cruz, discusses the expanding range of scientific puzzles the young field is tackling, from new insights into our Neanderthal inheritance to deep questions about ecology and evolution.