Paleogenetics and Mummies

Abstract

The molecular analysis of ancient DNA represents a unique oppor tunity for the study of human evolution, population dynamics, and disease evolution in mummified human remains.The investigation of ancient pathogen DNA has led to the detection of a wide range of bacterial, protozoal and viral infections in ancient tissue samples. In the 1990s and 2000s, Arthur C. Aufderheide, together with his colleagues, significantly contributed to the development of this field with his groundbreaking work on the molecular identification of tuberculosis and Chagas disease in South American mummies. More recently, the introduction of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and DNA capture techniques, has further improved the opportunity to study ancient human remains. One of the first mummies for which whole genome reconstruction was attempted successfully,is the 5,300-year-old TyroleanIceman. The sequencing revealed detailed infomation on his ancestry, his physical appearance, physiological parameters and the presence of pathogens and disease susceptibility.