McMaster Ancient DNA News

A new analysis of ancient mammoth DNA backs climate as the main culprit in their extinction, partially exonerating paleolithic human hunters.

We report the sequencing of a remarkably well-preserved Siberian woolly mammoth. Using a metagenomics approach we sequenced about 28 million reads of which 45.4% were identified as mammoth. The high percentage of endogenous DNA should enable the completion of its full genome.

Science Mag article on our recent paper taking a metagenomics approach to the sequence of ancient mammoth DNA.

American Museum of Natural History article on our collaborative efforts to produce the longest ancient DNA sequences ever obtained from a woolly mammoth.

The Telegarph article on our recent work sequencing the woolly mammoth genome and the likelihood for whole genome data.

Here we report our work looking into tarsus determination in Drosophila as it relates to ANTP cell autonomous or noncell autonomous determination.

Here we report the oldest fossil primate protein sequences from two approximately 75 thousand year old Neanderthals, as well as modern sequences from chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan. These sequences of bone osteocalcin lack hydroxylation of Proline-9 in Pan, Pongo, and Homo may reflect response to a selective pressure related to a decline in vitamin C in the diet during omnivorous dietary adaptation.

A response to the arguments about the survival of ancient DNA in Egypt and the likelihood of retrial of ancient DNA from Egyptian remains.

A critical assessment of the state of ancient DNA research and a review of some significant contributions and promising future research areas.