Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
DNA as a Genetic Template02:05

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...
DNA as a Genetic Template02:05

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
Sanger Sequencing01:57

Sanger Sequencing

DNA sequencing is a fundamental technique that is routinely used in the biological sciences. This method can be applied to a range of questions at different scales - from the sequencing of a cloned DNA fragment or the study of a mutation in a gene up to whole-genome sequencing. However, despite the widespread use of sequencing today, it was not until 1977 that Fredrick Sanger and his collaborators developed the chain-termination method to decode DNA sequences. It relies on the separation of a...
Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing01:05

Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing

In the same year as the discovery of the Sanger sequencing method, another group of scientists, Allan Maxam and Walter Gilbert, demonstrated their chemical-cleavage method for DNA sequencing. The Maxam-Gilbert method relies on using different chemicals that can cleave the DNA sequence at specific sites, the separation of resulting DNA fragments of variable size using electrophoresis, and deciphering the DNA sequence from the resulting gel bands.
Challenges of the Maxam-Gilbert Method
The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genomic insights into the population dynamics and demise of Neanderthals.

Nature·2026
Same author

UK Foundation Programme training needs a national minimum standard for advanced life support.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
Same author

Sequence Diversity Lost in Early Pregnancy.

Obstetrical & gynecological survey·2026
Same author

A trunkload of ancient RNA.

Cell·2026
Same author

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025
Same author

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources
15:28

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources

Published on: September 3, 2009

A statistical approach to identify ancient template DNA.

Agnar Helgason1, Snaebjörn Pálsson, Carles Lalueza-Fox

  • 1deCODE Genetics, Sturlugata 8, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. agnar@decode.is

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|June 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Authenticating ancient DNA sequences is challenging due to sample degradation and contamination. A new c statistic method effectively identifies endogenous DNA motifs by analyzing cytosine deamination damage in ancient samples.

More Related Videos

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
06:18

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains

Published on: November 30, 2021

G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome
06:40

G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome

Published on: March 22, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources
15:28

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources

Published on: September 3, 2009

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
06:18

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains

Published on: November 30, 2021

G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome
06:40

G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome

Published on: March 22, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Paleogenomics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Ancient DNA (aDNA) authentication is crucial yet difficult due to sample degradation and contamination.
  • Postmortem DNA damage, particularly cytosine deamination, complicates sequence analysis.
  • Authenticating sequences from ancient human remains presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a novel statistical approach for authenticating endogenous DNA sequences from ancient samples.
  • To develop a method that identifies authentic sequence motifs despite DNA damage and contamination.
  • To provide a tool for reliable analysis of ancient DNA, especially from human remains.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the c statistic to analyze nucleotide composition reflecting individual template molecules.
  • Exploited cytosine deamination, a common postmortem DNA damage, as a key indicator.
  • Applied the method to simulated datasets with miscoding lesions and published clone sequences.

Main Results:

  • The c-based approach demonstrated high effectiveness in identifying endogenous sequence motifs.
  • The method successfully identified authentic motifs even when not prevalent in sampled clones.
  • Validation was performed on both simulated and real-world ancient DNA datasets.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed c statistic method offers a robust solution for authenticating ancient DNA sequences.
  • This approach is particularly valuable for studies involving ancient human DNA, where authentication is critical.
  • The method has broad applicability for researchers working with degraded DNA from ancient tissues.