Multivariate DNA taphonomy: evaluating the effects of environmental context, specimen properties, and laboratory strategies on the preservation and detection of DNA in ancient and challenging specimens.
2012-05
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Multivariate DNA taphonomy: evaluating the effects of environmental context, specimen properties, and laboratory strategies on the preservation and detection of DNA in ancient and challenging specimens.
Authors
Published Date
2012-05
Publisher
Type
Thesis or Dissertation
Abstract
Within their diminutive structures, DNA molecules hold tantalizing potential to address myriad questions about human history, prehistory, and the evolution and dispersal of all forms of life. When accessible and accurate, DNA from ancient and degraded specimens can elucidate many topics of interest to researchers in a variety of fields including archaeology, biological anthropology, forensics, conservation and evolutionary biology, agronomy, and medicine.
Despite the great informational potential of genetic studies, the high cost and destructive nature of DNA analyses discourage many researchers from submitting archaeological specimens for testing. A diversity of DNA detection protocols, the limited scope of individual research projects, and a bias toward publishing successful results make it difficult to evaluate the comparative influence of different preservation factors, field methods, and laboratory strategies on the recovery of useful genetic information from ancient and degraded specimens. The work presented in this manuscript is predicated upon the contention that the opportunity to conduct ancient DNA research entails an obligation to make the most of every specimen fragment consumed, every data point collected, and every funding dollar spent. The scope of this project is to develop a system for evaluating whether DNA testing might be appropriate for a given specimen; for determining which steps can be taken to increase the chances of recovering useful data; and for maximizing the contribution of individual research projects, conducted across disparate fields, to the greater body of knowledge on DNA preservation and detection. This endeavor involved: (1) inventorying variables having potential to influence DNA preservation and/or detection; (2) investigating subsets of the candidate variables through case studies of archaeological materials from Kromdraai, Wonderwerk Cave, and Border Cave, South Africa, Silvernale Village, Minnesota, and UV-irradiated forensic-type samples; and (3) the development and validation (via case study data) of the Biomolecular Preservation and Detection Information System (BIOPADIS™), a standardized system for synthesis, management, and analysis of biomolecular taphonomy data.
BIOPADIS™ (\bī-’op-ad-is\) comprises a relational database that accommodates all manner of relevant data, a querying capability that makes these data accessible, and a set of statistical approaches appropriate for identifying and evaluating correlations within these multivariate, multi-study data.
Description
University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2012. Major: Anthropology. Advisor: William O. Beeman. 1 computer file (PDF); xxiii, 955 pages, appendices A-I.
Related to
Replaces
License
Collections
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Alveshere, Andrea Joanna. (2012). Multivariate DNA taphonomy: evaluating the effects of environmental context, specimen properties, and laboratory strategies on the preservation and detection of DNA in ancient and challenging specimens.. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/127427.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.