New Technique Provides Accurate Dating of Ancient Skeletons

Eurekalert ^ | June 17, 2018 | European Society of Human Genetics

[SunkenCiv]

Interest in the origins of human populations and their migration routes has increased greatly in recent years. A critical aspect of tracing migration events is dating them. However, the radiocarbon techniques*, that are commonly used to date and analyse DNA from ancient skeletons can be inaccurate and not always possible to apply. Inspired by the Geographic Population Structure model that can track mutations in DNA that are associated with geography, researchers have developed a new analytic method, the Time Population Structure (TPS), that uses mutations to predict time in order to date the ancient DNA.

Dr Umberto Esposito... TPS can calculate the mixtures of DNA deriving from different time periods to estimate its definitive age. "This introduces a completely new approach to dating. At this point, in its embryonic state, TPS has already shown that its results are very similar to those obtained with traditional radiocarbon dating. We found that the average difference between our age predictions on samples that existed up to 45,000 years ago, and those given by radiocarbon dating, was 800 years. This study adds a powerful instrument to the growing toolkit of paleogeneticists that can contribute to our understanding of ancient cultures, most of which are currently known from archaeology and ancient literature," says Dr Esposito.

Radiocarbon technology requires certain levels of radiocarbon on the skeleton, and this is not always available. In addition, it is a delicate procedure that can yield very different dates if done incorrectly. The new technique provides results similar to those obtained by radiocarbon dating, but using a completely new DNA-based approach that can complement radiocarbon dating or be used when radiocarbon dating is unreliable.

[SunkenCiv]

How does the Geographic Population Structure (GPS) work?

[lee martell]

So it’s a ‘Dating Service’, right? (sarcasm!)

[pepsi_junkie]

New Technique Provides Accurate Dating of Ancient Skeletons

Well it's new but how can they know it's accurate?

[SunkenCiv]

GPS (Geographic Population Structure) Origins Test
https://www.anylabtestnow.com/tests/gps-geographic-population-structure-origins-test/

Pitfalls of the geographic population structure (GPS) approach applied to human genetic history: a case study of Ashkenazi Jews
http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1503758/

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

It only works when general literacy is assumed.

[SunkenCiv]

Pretty soon that Clintoon pic with the good-looking mummy caption will appear, and it will be all your fault. ;^)

It is appropriate that DNA survival and dating are somehow related, heh...

[bunkerhill7]

It only works if the skeleton has not crossed any borders illegally.

[Oratam]

"Sign me up!"

[pepsi_junkie]

It only works when general literacy is assumed.

I'm literate enough to read this:
The researchers are currently compiling a larger dataset to increase the geographical/time coverage of their model and improve its accuracy. « Given the rapid increase in the number of ancient skeletons with published DNA, we believe that our technique will be useful to develop alternative hypotheses,» Dr Esposito will say

[a fool in paradise]

Bill Clinton is dating ancient skeletons again?

[Ezekiel]

[Nifster]

Oh noes that can’t be right. All sorts of folks have tried to convince me that carbon dating was really valid and accurate

Maybe this technique will be better

[relictele]

At least we won’t have to rely on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s driver’s license.

[SunkenCiv]

You can pick cherries, iow. Also in the excerpt:

TPS has already shown that its results are very similar to those obtained with traditional radiocarbon dating. We found that the average difference between our age predictions on samples that existed up to 45,000 years ago, and those given by radiocarbon dating, was 800 years [800/45000 is under 2%]... Radiocarbon technology requires certain levels of radiocarbon on the skeleton, and this is not always available.

[pepsi_junkie]

Why are you being so hostile, is this a grad project for you or something?

[SunkenCiv]

Why are you pretending to be so concerned about the science, when you clearly have absolutely no interest in science?

[pepsi_junkie]

Well then. I'm an engineer, jerk. I do science for a living. I have a Masters Degree in SCIENCE. I care about data. I'm a published author in the topic of techniques for accurate modeling of dynamic magnetic fields in the presence of large ferrous structures. I know a bit about the pitfalls of models. They tuned a model to a known specimen. They extrapolate that a good correlation to this one sample makes it generally accurate and useful to extend to general sample. I asked how they make that extension when they themselves say they are still building their dataset. Then you jump down my throat like I declared the earth flat and Obama god-emporer.

If all you want is an amen choir to all your articles than why even post to a forum that invites comments?

[Original Lurker]

Or when you’re following the accepted *narrative*.

[CaptainPhilFan]

That’ll come in handy around here.

Lots of FReeper guys adore their chicks on the anorexic side.