Human Origins and Ancient Human DNA

A. Cooper; A. Rambaut; V. Macaulay; E. Willerslev; A. J. Hansen; C. Stringer; G. J. Adcock; E. S. Dennis; S. Easteal; G. A. Huttley; L. S. Jermiin; W. J. Peacock; A. Thorne

doi:10.1126/science.292.5522.1655

Human Origins and Ancient Human DNA

A. Cooper^*, A. Rambaut, V. Macaulay, E. Willerslev, A. J. Hansen, C. Stringer, G. J. Adcock, E. S. Dennis, S. Easteal, G. A. Huttley, L. S. Jermiin, W. J. Peacock, A. Thorne

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In her article oldest human DNA reveals Aussie oddity (News of the Week, 12 Jan., p. 230), Constance Holden overlooks several problems with the challenge to the Out of Africa theory of modern human origins posed by putative ancient Australian human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (1). Ancient DNA discoveries are easily contaminated (2) and carry a considerable burden of proof, especially when they involve human sequences or surprising examples of preservation. Both concerns apply in the case of the ancient Australian remains (up to 60,000 years old) analyzed by Adcock and colleagues (1), because DNA is not expected to survive for this length of time outside of cold environments (3) and similar remains elsewhere have not yielded genetic material (4).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1655-1656
Number of pages	2
Journal	Science
Volume	292
Issue number	5522
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.292.5522.1655
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2001
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Human Origins and Ancient Human DNA",

abstract = "In her article oldest human DNA reveals Aussie oddity (News of the Week, 12 Jan., p. 230), Constance Holden overlooks several problems with the challenge to the Out of Africa theory of modern human origins posed by putative ancient Australian human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (1). Ancient DNA discoveries are easily contaminated (2) and carry a considerable burden of proof, especially when they involve human sequences or surprising examples of preservation. Both concerns apply in the case of the ancient Australian remains (up to 60,000 years old) analyzed by Adcock and colleagues (1), because DNA is not expected to survive for this length of time outside of cold environments (3) and similar remains elsewhere have not yielded genetic material (4).",

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AU - Cooper, A.

AU - Rambaut, A.

AU - Macaulay, V.

AU - Willerslev, E.

AU - Hansen, A. J.

AU - Stringer, C.

AU - Adcock, G. J.

AU - Dennis, E. S.

AU - Easteal, S.

AU - Huttley, G. A.

AU - Jermiin, L. S.

AU - Peacock, W. J.

AU - Thorne, A.

PY - 2001/6/1

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AB - In her article oldest human DNA reveals Aussie oddity (News of the Week, 12 Jan., p. 230), Constance Holden overlooks several problems with the challenge to the Out of Africa theory of modern human origins posed by putative ancient Australian human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (1). Ancient DNA discoveries are easily contaminated (2) and carry a considerable burden of proof, especially when they involve human sequences or surprising examples of preservation. Both concerns apply in the case of the ancient Australian remains (up to 60,000 years old) analyzed by Adcock and colleagues (1), because DNA is not expected to survive for this length of time outside of cold environments (3) and similar remains elsewhere have not yielded genetic material (4).

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JO - Science

JF - Science

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Human Origins and Ancient Human DNA

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