Ancient DNA: Phylogenetic Applications

Michael Knapp, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Linda Vigilant, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Michael Hofreiter, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany

Published online: March 2008

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005143.pub2

Studies of ancient human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) attempt to shed light on the genetic relationships among individuals representing archaic or extinct human populations, and between these individuals and modern humans. These studies are limited by several factors, including the contamination of ancient samples with modern human DNA, the limited availability of nuclear DNA and difficulties in interpretation of results, due to the fact that modern, typically geographically defined human populations are not associated with diagnostic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences.

Keywords: early humans; evolution; migration; Neanderthals

 References
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Related Sub-Topics:

Reconstruction of Phylogeny | Molecular Evolution | Human Evolution
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Article Title: Ancient DNA: Phylogenetic Applications
 
How to Cite close
Knapp, Michael, Vigilant, Linda, and Hofreiter, Michael(Mar 2008) Ancient DNA: Phylogenetic Applications. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005143.pub2]