The Caucasus: Complex interplay of genes and cultures
An international research team, coordinated by the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH) and the Eurasia Department of the German Archaeological
Category : Biology
HeritageDaily – Biology news and biological press releases from across the globe
Baboons provide new insights into the evolution of the genome
Recent studies suggest that closely related species can develop significant genetic and phenotypic differences throughout their evolution despite ongoing gene flow.
Artificial intelligence applied to the genome identifies an unknown human ancestor
By combining deep learning algorithms and statistical methods, investigators have identified, in the genome of Asiatic individuals, the footprint of a new hominid who cross bred
First ancient DNA from mainland Finland reveals origins of Siberian ancestry in region
Researchers from the Max-Planck-Institute for the Science of Human History and the University of Helsinki have analyzed the first ancient DNA from mainland Finland.
Ancient human population histories revealed in Central and South America
The first high quality ancient DNA data from Central and South America--49 individuals some as old as 11,000 years--has revealed a major and previously unknown
‘Potato gene’ reveals how ancient Andeans adapted to starchy diet
Potatoes, native to South America, became an agricultural crop thousands of years ago in the Andean highlands of Peru. And just as the ancient Andean
DNA of world’s oldest natural mummy unlocks secrets of Ice Age tribes in the Americas
A legal battle over a 10,600 year old ancient skeleton - called the 'Spirit Cave Mummy' - has ended after advanced DNA sequencing found it
New, large sequence panel enables population genetics research in Africa
Geneticists have assembled the largest sets of African genomic data available to date, creating a resource that will help researchers understand the genetic structure of
Parasites from medieval latrines unlock secrets of human history
A radical new approach combining archaeology, genetics and microscopy can reveal long-forgotten secrets of human diet, sanitation and movement from studying parasites in ancient poo,
Modern humans inherited viral defenses from Neanderthals
Neanderthals mysteriously disappeared about 40,000 years ago, but before vanishing they interbred with another human species that was just beginning its global spread.
DNA of early medieval Alemannic warriors and their entourage decoded
In 1962, an Alemannic burial site containing human skeletal remains was discovered in Niederstotzingen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Researchers at the Eurac Research Centre in Bozen-Bolzano, Italy,
Researchers reveal hidden rules of genetics for how life on Earth began
All living things use the genetic code to “translate” DNA-based genetic information into proteins, which are the main working molecules in cells. Precisely how the
Knowing your ancestors – DNA Testing
Ever wondered where you really come from? As a historian, that's been a large part of my journey with HeritageDaily. Discovering the past and a
Evidence of Salmonella Paratyphi C found for the first time in medieval northern Europe
Genome research conducted by the University of Warwick suggests that enteric fever, a potentially lethal disease more commonly found in hot countries, was present in
Otago-led research cites faulty science and ethics in DNA analyzes of ‘Ata’
University of Otago-led international collaborative research calls into question the ethics and skeletal and genomic analysis surrounding research into the much publicised alien-like "Atacama mummy".
Eating bone marrow played a key role in the evolution of the human hand
The strength required to access the high calorie content of bone marrow may have played a key role in the evolution of the human hand
First ancient syphilis genomes decoded
An international research team, including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, the University of Tübingen, the National School of
Oldest bubonic plague genome decoded
An international team of researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History has analyzed two 3,800-year-old Y. pestis genomes that suggest a
The genes from Icelanda’s first settlers reveal the origin of their population in detail
In just over 1,000 years, Icelanders have gone through numerous changes in their gene pool, to the extent that Iceland's first settlers, who came to
Wars and clan structure may explain a strange biological event 7,000 years ago
Starting about 7,000 years ago, something weird seems to have happened to men: Over the next two millennia, recent studies suggest, their genetic diversity -specifically,
Scientists analyze first ancient human DNA from Southeast Asia
The first whole-genome analyses of ancient human DNA from Southeast Asia reveal that there were at least three major waves of human migration into the
What we inherited from our bug-eating ancestors
People who advocate adding insects to the human diet may be channeling their distant ancestors.