This is the blog for GW students taking Human Evolutionary Genetics. This site is for posting interesting tidbits on: the patterns and processes of human genetic variation;human origins and migration; molecular adaptations to environment, lifestyle and disease; ancient and forensic DNA analyses; and genealogical reconstructions.

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GWHEG figure

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Historical human remains identification through maternal and paternal genetic signatures in a founder population with extensive genealogical record

Historical human remains identification through maternal and paternal genetic signatures in a founder population with extensive genealogical record


This paper introduced a method of identifying human remains from unmarked graves in Québec. They used BALSAC database to look at lineage markers (aDNA and modern) to identify candidate sons that the remains could have originated. This method relied on (1) mtDNA and Y-chromosome haplotype comparison within BALSAC, (2) matching the haplotypes of contemporary individuals, and (3) males that share the same combination of Y-chromosome and mtDNA haplotypes as the exhumed individuals. They used the remains of six male individuals (teeth and petrous bones) to conduct this study. Out of 30, only six were able to provide enough DNA to replicate. This method is interesting, due to the use of genealogical data available. They also brought up how immigrant men were not able to be identified since the maternal signature was unknown. They were able to identify several candidates that matched one specimen, showing that this does have potential with more in-depth genealogical and genetic data down the road.


Kailie Batsche

AJPA Journal Update April 2020

Authors: Tommy Harding, Jean-Francois Lefebvre, Jean-Sébastien Bournival, Hélène Vézina, Emmanuel Milot, Claudia Moreau, Catherine Laprise, Ferran Casals, Isabelle Ribot, Damian Labuda


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