Teaching Responsibility
LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:
Biological and Environmental Sciences
Learning Methods
Lecture
Practical
Workshop
Module Offerings
7201NATSCI-SEP-CTY
Aims
During the last decade, the development of ancient DNA methodologies has enabled the sequencing of thousands of genomes from archaeological human remains. This data has profoundly transformed our understanding of past population movements and produced crucial information for answering long-standing questions in archaeology.
This module is designed to provide students with a solid understanding of the key findings in the Ancient DNA and Proteomics fields, what kind of information can be obtained from Ancient DNA, and issues and limitations surrounding DNA preservation and recovery.
A large component of this module is focused on the laboratory and computational methods involved in the generation, processing and analysis of Ancient DNA data. The students will have the opportunity to acquire skills and experience in various computational/bioinformatics techniques. These include evaluating Ancient DNA sample preservation and authenticity, determining the sex of ancient human remains, characterizing autosomal and uniparental ancestry and jointly interpreting results of genetic analyses with archaeological and anthropological data.
Learning Outcomes
1.
Demonstrate critical knowledge about the key Ancient DNA and Paleoproteomics findings from the last decade.
2.
Apply Ancient DNA and Paleoproteomics research to study past demography and population history.
3.
Critically evaluate different laboratorial techniques involved in the generation of sequence data from ancient human remains, taking into account their advantages and limitations.
4.
Analyse Ancient DNA data using a variety of computational methods and interpret the resulting findings.
Module Content
Outline Syllabus:Ancient DNA as a tool for investigating past migrations and population history. Overview of the main Ancient DNA findings in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. The genetic impact of cultural transition (with a focus on the European Neolithic and Bronze Age periods). Neanderthal and Denisovan genetics. Kinship and social organisation. Paleoproteomics. DNA preservation and recovery. Laboratory techniques for Ancient DNA extraction and sequencing. Computational methods for processing and analysing Ancient DNA and Proteomics data.
Module Overview:
This module is designed to provide a solid understanding of the key findings in the Ancient DNA and Proteomics fields and covers the kind of information that can be obtained from Ancient DNA and issues and limitations surrounding DNA preservation and recovery.
This module is designed to provide a solid understanding of the key findings in the Ancient DNA and Proteomics fields and covers the kind of information that can be obtained from Ancient DNA and issues and limitations surrounding DNA preservation and recovery.
Additional Information:Ancient DNA is an extremely powerful tool for understanding the population history of our species. Recent methodological advances have led to a rapid expansion of the field and to its establishment as a vital component to other bioarchaeological methods for analysing ancient human remains. In this module, students will acquire critical knowledge about the main ancient DNA findings which have emerged in the last decade. Emphasis will be given to the acquisition of computational skills for the analysis of genetic data which are in high demand in both academic and industrial settings, therefore increasing the students' future job prospects.
LJMU’s Faculty of Biological Sciences has several well-equipped laboratories, including one exclusively dedicated to Ancient DNA work and multiple molecular biology laboratories, which can be used to support teaching activities. Computational workshops will take place in the IT room or using remote access VPN connections if necessary