Researchers chart advances in ancient DNA technology

EurekAlert! ^ | July 21, 2022 | Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

[SunkenCiv]

...Before high-throughput sequencing became commonplace, the aDNA field relied on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to sequence a few specific DNA fragments. Researchers could only extract a very limited amount of DNA information with this technology and had trouble distinguishing genuine aDNA from contaminant DNA.

To complement advances in sequencing, aDNA researchers have also developed improved methods of DNA library construction to better reflect the characteristics of aDNA. Among these methods, partial uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) treatments and single-stranded DNA library construction are two of the most important...

The application of aDNA technology goes far beyond the ancient human genome, of course. Paleomolecular research also covers important topics such as tracing ancient epidemics and symbiotic microbial evolution through ancient microbial information; using ancient epigenetic information to explore the interaction between ancient animals and the environment; and using ancient proteins to explore human evolution over long time periods, including how aDNA influences the physiology and fitness of modern humans.

aDNA is time-stamped genetic information that records the evolution and adaptation of human beings over tens of thousands of years. We now know from aDNA research that several important functional genetic haplotypes derive from archaic human populations. These genes are involved in innate immunity, lipid metabolism, high-altitude survivability, and skin color. However, the functions of most genetic variants identified by aDNA studies have not yet been determined.

[SunkenCiv]

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• Ancient Tooth Once Belonged to The Mysterious Denisovans, Scientists Think [05/17/2022]
• Artificial Intelligence Has Found an Unknown 'Ghost' Ancestor in The Human Genome [11/04/2021]
• One Living People Today Show More Traces of The Mysterious Denisovans Than Any Others [08/23/2021]
• Neandertal and Denisovan blood groups deciphered [08/08/2021]
• Just 7% Of Our DNA Is Unique To Modern Humans, Study Shows [07/17/2021]
• New Evidence in Search for the Mysterious Denisovans [04/05/2021]
• Scientists Sequence Y Chromosome DNA of Denisovans and Neanderthals [09/27/2020]
• DNA from Denisovans can be found in humans today: DNA from an unknown ancient ancestor of humans that once bred with Denisovans still exists among people today, study reveals [08/07/2020]
• John Hawks - Who were the ancestors of the Neanderthals? [08/02/2020]
• Researchers Sequence Genome of Neanderthal Woman from Chagyrskaya Cave [06/21/2020]
• Humans and Neanderthals: less different than polar and brown bears [06/12/2020]
• Neandertals had older mothers and younger fathers [04/25/2020]
• A study refutes the similarities between the teeth of Denisovans and modern Asians [01/01/2020]
• Southeast Asia was crowded with archaic human groups long before we turned up [07/28/2019]
• Denisovans, A Mysterious Form Of Ancient Humans, Are Traced to Tibet [05/01/2019]
• The first known fossil of a Denisovan skull has been found in a Siberian cave [04/08/2019]
• Extinct human species lived together in Siberian cave, new research shows [02/16/2019]
• 50,000 year old tiara made of woolly mammoth ivory found in world famous Denisova Cave [01/20/2019]
• 'Denisova 11' Had Neanderthal Mother and Denisovan Father [08/27/2018]
• Cave girl was half Neanderthal, half Denisovan [08/22/2018]
• No evidence of 'hobbit' ancestry in genomes of Flores Island pygmies [08/06/2018]
• Homo sapiens developed a new ecological niche that separated it from other hominins [07/30/2018]
• A New Batch of Neanderthal Genome Provides Insights Into Their Complex History [03/26/2018]
• Modern humans interbred with Denisovans twice in history [03/16/2018]
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• Is this stunning bracelet made by Paleolithic man for his favourite woman really 70,000 years old? [08/04/2017]
• New DNA From A Neanderthal Bone Reveals Evidence Of A Lost Tribe Of Humans [07/05/2017]
• Neanderthals In California? Maybe So, Provocative Study Says (Denisovians?) [04/27/2017]
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• Ancient human ancestor may have persisted through Ice Age [12/17/2015]
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• Prehistoric tooth reveals surprising details about long-lost human 'cousins' [11/18/2015]
• DNA from Neandertal relative may shake up human family tree [09/13/2015]
• Stone bracelet is oldest ever found in the world [Denisovan, 40K ago] [05/09/2015]
• Fossil Found In Asia Could Be A New Species Of Human [01/28/2015]
• The Case of the Missing Ancestor: DNA from Russia adds a mysterious new member to the human family [07/04/2014]
• Tibetans get high-altitude edge from extinct Denisovans' genes [07/03/2014]
• Baffling 400,000-Year-Old Clue to Human Origins [12/05/2013]
• Ancient Humans Had Sex With A Mystery Species (Not Neanderthals Or Denisovans) [12/05/2013]
• At 400,000 Years, Oldest Human DNA Yet Found Raises New Mysteries [12/04/2013]
• Ancient Humans Crossed Ocean Barrier? [10/19/2013]
• Modern Humans in India Earlier Than Previously Thought? [09/15/2013]
• Ancient Siberians may have rarely hunted mammoths [06/15/2013]
• Archaeogenetic research refutes earlier findings [06/13/2013]
• Modern Y-Chromosome Variation Surpasses Archaic Humans (article) [05/07/2013]
• Toba super-volcano catastrophe idea 'dismissed' [05/02/2013]
• Researchers Publish Improved Neanderthal Genome [03/19/2013]
• Ancient Mariners: Did Neanderthals Sail to Mediterranean? [11/24/2012]
• Anthropologist suggests Mediterranean islands inhabited much earlier than thought [11/16/2012]
• DNA Unveils Enigmatic Denisovans [09/29/2012]
• How our DNA differs from that of Denisovans, our extinct cousins [09/01/2012]
• Mysterious Chinese Fossils May Be New Human Species [03/14/2012]
• Neanderthals were ancient mariners [03/02/2012]
• Modern Humans Interbred with Archaic Humans in East Asia, Study Says [11/08/2011]
• Many roads lead to Asia (Denisovans, migrations, etc.) [09/26/2011]
• Neanderthal sex boosted immunity in modern humans [08/26/2011]
• Stone Age toe could redraw human family tree [08/12/2011]
• Mating with Neanderthals Good for Human Health [06/17/2011]
• Cretan tools point to 130,000-year-old sea travel [01/03/2011]
• Scientists say new human relative roamed widely in Asia [12/25/2010]
• Genome of extinct Siberian cave-dweller linked to modern-day humans [12/23/2010]
• Ancient humans, dubbed 'Denisovans', interbred with us [12/22/2010]
• DNA says new human relative roamed widely in Asia [12/22/2010]
• Is the Mysterious Siberian "X-Woman" a New Hominid Species? [03/25/2010]
• Gene research reveals fourth human species [03/24/2010]
• Possible new human ancestor found in SiberiaPossible new human ancestor found in Siberia [03/24/2010]
• DNA identifies new ancient human dubbed 'X-woman' [03/24/2010]
• New ancestor? Scientists ponder DNA from Siberia [03/24/2010]
• 'Pompeii-Like' Excavations Tell Us More About Toba Super-Eruption [03/04/2010]
• On Crete, New Evidence of Very Ancient Mariners [02/17/2010]
• Ancient hominids may have been seafarers [01/14/2010]
• Super-Eruption: No Problem (Toba) [07/06/2007]

[SunkenCiv]

[rlmorel]

I don’t know...given that they have concerns about the assigned gender and correct pronouns of people who have been dead for thousands of years...I am not sure we want to open up the DNA bag of worms...might make their heads explode!

[SunkenCiv]

I am not sure we want to open up the DNA bag of worms

That's what she said.

[rightwingcrazy]

“ancient DNA technology”

The Sumerians were all over this, back in the day. Then it was all forgotten.

[SunkenCiv]

Uh, no.

[rightwingcrazy]

I could have gone with aliens. Excessive brevity brings ambiguity; they could have said “technology for ancient DNA research” to deal with pests like me.

[Pollard]

Too late. They’re doing CRISPR Cas9 gene-editing on livestock now and had already done it on many plants. Polled cattle. Pigs that don’t get a common pig disease. Laying hens that kill male embryos. Tomato plant with upright growth gene removed so it fits into indoor vertical farming systems that are already set up for greens and lettuce.

RNA Therapeutics and DNA Editing | Jennifer Doudna 2015 - WEF - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qECgqd6wJb0

Super soldiers and humans living for 200 years are just around the corner.

[Pollard]

Gene editing can now change an entire species — forever | Jennifer Kahn

CRISPR gene drives allow scientists to change sequences of DNA and guarantee that the resulting edited genetic trait is inherited by future generations, opening up the possibility of altering entire species forever. More than anything, this technology has led to questions: How will this new power affect humanity? What are we going to use it to change? Are we gods now? Join journalist Jennifer Kahn as she ponders these questions and shares a potentially powerful application of gene drives: the development of disease-resistant mosquitoes that could knock out malaria and Zika.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_OhvOumT0

[SunkenCiv]

Is such a thing even possible? Yes, it is.

[rlmorel]

LOl!

[telescope115]

Nice picture. One is outer spaced and the other is spaced out!