Centre for Ancient Genetics | Centre for Comparative Genomics

Title: Ancient DNA and Evolution Group

Ancient DNA. Retrieval and analyses of DNA from fossil remains; bones, teeth, coprolites, hair, plant macros, sediments, and ice. Questions of interest relates to past population dynamics, phyleogeography, phylogeny, paeloenvironmental reconstructions, DNA degradation, metagenomics and long-term microbial survival.
Metazoan Evolution and Development. Studies of metazoan taxonomy, phylogeny and divergence time with main focus on crustaceans, kinorhyncs, rotifers, micrognathozoas, and gnathostomulids as well as baleen and tooth whales. Studies of development, metamorphosis and parasitism within the cirripedies.
Molecular Evolution. Large-scale studies of retrotransposable elements and their role in shaping extant eukaryotic genomes. Potential interactions between retrotransposable elements and endogenous protein-coding genes, and the role of retrotransposable elements in creating genetic differences between species.

DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America.
Gilbert MT, Jenkins DL, Götherstrom A, Naveran N, Sanchez JJ, Hofreiter M, Thomsen PF, Binladen J, Higham TF, Yohe RM 2nd, Parr R, Cummings LS, Willerslev E.

The timing of the first human migration into the Americas and its relation to the appearance of the Clovis technological complex in North America ca. 11-10.8 thousand radiocarbon years before present ((14)C ka B.P.) remains contentious. We establish that humans were present at Paisley 5 Mile Point Caves, south-central Oregon, by 12,300 (14)C yr. B.P., through recovery of human mtDNA from coprolites, directly dated by accelerator mass spectrometry. The mtDNA corresponds to Native American founding haplogroups A2 and B2. The dates of the coprolites are >1000 (14)C years earlier than currently accepted dates for the Clovis-complex. [HTML]

Ancient DNA and Evolution Group
Department of Biology
University of Copenhagen
Juliane Maries Vej 30
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Denmark

by Martin Bay Hebsgaard
(Created Monday 11 July, 2005)