Knowra Archaeogenetics Archaeogenetics Archaeogenetics studies DNA and other genetic material recovered from archaeological remains to investigate past populations, ancestry, migration, and relationships among organisms.
Ancient DNA : Genetic material preserved in archaeological or other old biological remains. It is the principal evidence archaeogenetics extracts from ancient remains.
Human migration : The movement of people between regions, whether temporary or permanent. Genetic similarities across archaeological sites can trace past movements of people.
DNA : The hereditary molecule that stores genetic information in most living organisms. Its inheritance and sequence variation make ancestry comparisons possible.
Svante Pääbo : A Swedish geneticist who pioneered molecular studies of ancient DNA and led Neanderthal genome research. His laboratory established methods and results that helped define ancient human genomics.
Archaeogenetic sampling bias : Systematic distortion in ancient genetic findings caused by which remains are preserved, excavated, or analyzed. Uneven samples can make some places, periods, and communities appear more representative than they are.
Ancient DNA extraction : Laboratory procedures that isolate DNA from biological samples while limiting contamination. Clean extraction helps distinguish ancient molecules from modern DNA introduced during handling.
Human population history : The history of human populations, including their formation, movement, and interaction. Archaeogenetic evidence helps reconstruct population change across generations.
Mitochondrial DNA : DNA in mitochondria, usually inherited through the maternal line in humans. Its many cellular copies can survive where nuclear DNA is scarce, but trace only one lineage.
Allan Wilson : An American biochemist who used molecular evidence to investigate evolutionary relationships and human origins. His work helped inspire the use of molecular data to reconstruct the human past.
Genetic ancestry : A person's or population's genetic relationships to earlier populations inferred from inherited DNA variation. Ancient DNA estimates ancestry, but ancestry does not map neatly onto cultural identity.
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