Ancient DNA

Summary

Prehistoric samples, such as bones, teeth and sediments contain minute amounts of ancient DNA. This DNA provides a time window into the past, and can be used to track evolutionary changes in real time. We are using a combination of whole genome and targeted sequencing to investigate the evolutionary history of several different extinct and extant species. The laboratory analyses are done in a dedicated ancient DNA clean lab in order to minimise the effect of contamination.

Our main research objectives are (i) to assess the impacts of past changes in climate on species evolution and demography, (ii) to investigate past events of gene flow among species and populations, and (iii) to examine the genetic processes that take place as species approach extinction. Examples of recent projects include genome sequencing of multiple woolly mammoths to examine inbreeding and loss of genetic variation in the last surviving population on Wrangel Island, tracing the genetic divergence between the wolf and domestic dog, and exploring the evolutionary relationship between extinct and extant rhinoceros species.

Specific questions that we are addressing include:

• How were arctic species affected by the increases in global temperatures that took place at the end of the last Ice Age?
• Were extinct species affected by genetic factors prior to their disappearance?
• How can we use palaeogenomic data to better understand divergence times among taxa?
  

For more information, see https://palaeogenetics.com

Project Participants at NRM

Love Dalén (Principal investigator)

David Díez-del-Molino (Postdoc)

Nicolas Dussex (Postdoc)

Tatiana Feuerborn (PhD student)