Going local with ancient DNA: A review of human histories from regional perspectives.

Ávila-Arcos MC, Raghavan M, Schlebusch C

Science (New York, N.Y.) 382 (6666) 53-58 [2023-10-06; online 2023-10-05]

Ancient DNA (aDNA) has added a wealth of information about our species' history, including insights on genetic origins, migrations and gene flow, genetic admixture, and health and disease. Much early work has focused on continental-level questions, leaving many regional questions, especially those relevant to the Global South, comparatively underexplored. A few success stories of aDNA studies from smaller laboratories involve more local aspects of human histories and health in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. In this Review, we cover some of these contributions by synthesizing finer-scale questions of importance to the archaeogenetics field, as well as to Indigenous and Descendant communities. We further highlight the potential of aDNA to uncover past histories in regions where colonialism has neglected the oral histories of oppressed peoples.

PubMed 37797024

DOI 10.1126/science.adh8140

Crossref 10.1126/science.adh8140


Publications 9.5.1