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Eighteenth Annual Darwin College Lecture Series 2003
Changing Science and Society
Lecture 3 : 31 January 2003
Ancient DNA
Professor Svante Pääbo
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig
I will describe our efforts to elucidate the evolutionary history of extinct species and
past populations using 'ancient' DNA; that is, DNA from archaeological and palaeontological
remains. Analysis of ancient DNA is made extremely difficult by the fact that the DNA
molecules are degraded to small pieces and chemically modified as a result of post-mortem
enzymatic, hydrolytic, and oxidative processes. In addition, the inescapable contamination of
old specimens with miniscule amounts of contemporary DNA means that stringent criteria must
be met in order to avoid erroneous results. Over the last 15 years, we have made progress
in overcoming some of these problems and have been able to retrieve DNA sequences from
Pleistocene organisms such as cave bears, mammoths and Neanderthals.
I will discuss what Neanderthal DNA sequences suggest concerning the histories and
interactions of Neanderthals and modern humans. I will also discuss how a direct window into
the behavior of extinct mammals and ancient humans is given by the inference of their diets
using analysis of DNA from coprolites. Furthermore, DNA from ancient corn cobs allows us to
follow how key genes responsible for various properties of maize were selected by early
farmers in the Americas.
The lectures are given at 5.30 p.m. in The Lady Mitchell Hall,
Sidgwick Avenue, with an adjacent overflow theatre with live TV
coverage. Each lecture is typically attended by 600 people so you
must arrive early to ensure a place.
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