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Category Archives: Paleogenomics
Genomic signatures of ancient rendezvous and separation in elephant evolution
Evidence from various levels of the tree of life is showing that we’ve been picturing ancient encounters between related species all wrong and admixture events are probably more common than expected. Even rendezvous among primates, caniforms, and majestic proboscideans often … Continue reading
Posted in conservation, evolution, genomics, hybridization, natural history, Paleogenomics, phylogeography
Tagged admixture, ancient DNA, conservation, elephants, Evolution, gene flow, hybridization
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(Un)usual sources of ancient DNA
Working with ancient DNA can be quite painful at times, but hard work pays off (or so they say) and scientists are starting to reap great benefits from their effort by exploring more and more things to extract DNA from.
Posted in evolution, genomics, methods, Paleogenomics
Tagged ancient DNA, paleogenomics, samples, sources
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The Hype Cycle of Ancient DNA
Recently I saw a graph that I’ve learnt is called the Hype Cycle and is a methodology used in assessment of new technologies and their marketing. What strikes me about it is how well it fits my own research field, … Continue reading
Posted in evolution, natural history, Paleogenomics, phylogenetics, population genetics, theory
Tagged ancient DNA, history, hype cycle
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What's left of the black rhino's genetic diversity?
With the current poaching epidemic we might lose rhinos before we even have time to get to know them. Luckily, the day has come and thanks to Yoshan Moodley, Mike Bruford and their team we know have a pretty good … Continue reading
Posted in conservation, evolution, Paleogenomics, phylogeography, population genetics
Tagged black rhino, conservation, extinction
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The final nail in the coffin of Patagonian megafaunal extinctions
Are our ancestors responsible for Late Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions? Were the Ice Age giants doomed to extinction because they couldn’t adapt or is it human fault that there is no woolly rhino, giant deer and cave bear today? A new … Continue reading
Posted in evolution, natural history, Paleogenomics
Tagged extinction, megafauna, Patagonia, radiocarbon dating, South America
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Ice-Age Euro-trips
Recent works that attempt to get at human migrations inside Europe paint a complex portrait of migratory events, admixture with archaic hominids, and adaptive evolution to new geographies, and a changing global climate. Analyzing whole genomes of 51 ancient humans … Continue reading
Opening Pandora's box: PSMC and population structure
Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful. — George Box Publication of the Li and Durbin’s 2011 paper titled “Inference of human population history from individual whole-genome sequences” was a milestone in the inference of demography. By allowing … Continue reading
How to Clone a Mammoth: When science fiction becomes reality
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. When I explain that I study the woolly mammoth, sooner or later (and usually right away) comes the question, “Are you going to clone a mammoth?” … Continue reading
Posted in book review, Paleogenomics
Tagged ancient DNA, How to clone a mammoth, mammoth, shapiro
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