Ancient DNA May Be Misleading Scientists

ABC Science News ^ | 2-18-2003

[blam]

Ancient DNA may be misleading scientists

Tuesday, 18 February 2003

Dating skeletal material with DNA may not be as acurate as thought

Ancient DNA in skeletons has a tendency to show damage in a particular region, resulting in misleading genetic data and mistaken conclusions about the origin of the skeleton, British scientists said.

A group of researchers at the Henry Wellcome Ancient Biomolecules Centre of the University of Oxford, in Britain, made the finding while studying Viking specimens. They found that about half of the specimens had DNA that suggested they were of Middle Eastern origin.

But more detailed analysis revealed that many of the genetic sequences in the double helix molecule, which carries the genetic information of every individual, were damaged at a key base that separates European sequences from Middle Eastern genetic types - damage which made the skeletons appear to have originated in the Levant.

The results are published in the February 2003 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Damage events appear to be concentrated in specific 'hotspots', indicating that a high proportion of DNA molecules can be modified at the same point. These hotspots appear to be in positions that also differ between different human groups. In other words, the DNA damage discovered affects the same genetic positions as evolutionary change.

"Now that this phenomenon has been recognised, it is possible to survey the ancient sequences for damage more accurately, and determine the correct original genetic type - open the way for more reliable future studies," said Professor Alan Cooper, director of the centre.

Cooper has hopes the finding may have implications for future research. "It also appears that we can use damage cause after death to examine how DNA damage occurs during life - a completely unanticipated, and somewhat ironic result," he said. "Potentially this allows us to get uniquely separate views of the two major evolutionary processes, mutation and selection."

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[blam]

I wonder how this will affect the "we're not Neanderthals" DNA readings?

[genefromjersey]

Yeah, and I wonder how it will affect the " Out of Africa "
groupies.

[JudyB1938]

My first thought was how it could adversely affect Spirit Cave, etc., results.

My second thought, although not quite PC, was that the Muslims are even messing with DNA findings. :0)

[jnarcus]

Actually what is even more interesting is that this may suggest that The Lost Tribes of Israel may now be scientifically tested....and in a time when they are known as not my people....

[blam]

Oldie but goodie.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. Last ping for the night. It's the 29th here, about 1:13 AM.

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[adam_az]

dna ping

[shuckmaster]

They found that about half of the specimens had DNA that suggested they were of Middle Eastern origin.

There are quite a few writers who have been saying all along that vikings were the descendants of the lost tribe of the redhead Esau. Googling various combinations of words like "esau red Mount Seir germany vikings" brings up some interesting reading.

[gobucks]

Damage events appear to be concentrated in specific 'hotspots', indicating that a high proportion of DNA molecules can be modified at the same point. These hotspots appear to be in positions that also differ between different human groups. In other words, the DNA damage discovered affects the same genetic positions as evolutionary change.

How neat. Just think of the implications...

[wolfcreek]

Or the Asian land bridge groupies.......... wait, that one seems feasible

[Just mythoughts]

"Ancient DNA in skeletons has a tendency to show damage in a particular region, resulting in misleading genetic data and mistaken conclusions about the origin of the skeleton, British scientists said."


I thought the "conclusion" has already been designed via that scientific method.

[Vicomte13]

I hate to be the one that does this, but actually, it might show that mankind has a common middle eastern origin, and that the basic "Eden" story is at least true in that respect, that it identifies the place from which man originated.

Also, Europeans are Indo-European. They walked INTO Europe from the East. The Varangians also ranged the rivers of Russia. Middle Eastern women are often hot. Vikings certainly carted some off as slaves, and had children by them, some of whom became Vikings. Why would we not expect there to be Vikings showing the DNA of people that Vikings enslaved?

[blam]

"Also, Europeans are Indo-European. They walked INTO Europe from the East. "

That's my position presently too.

[lepton]

That's my position presently too.

You picked that line isntead of:

Middle Eastern women are often hot.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

But the Brits don't study science.