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

Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.9K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.9K
Genomics02:02

Genomics

41.2K
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
41.2K
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

7.1K
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...
7.1K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

43.0K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
43.0K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

8.3K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
8.3K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

3.8K
3.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Reconciling fast Hepatitis B evolutionary rates with ancient co-divergence.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Lethal plague outbreaks in Lake Baikal hunter-gatherers 5,500 years ago.

Nature·2026
Same author

Population discontinuity in the Paris Basin linked to evidence of the Neolithic decline.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Ancient DNA reveals 4000 years of grapevine diversity, viticulture and clonal propagation in France.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Local agricultural transition, crisis and migration in the Southern Andes.

Nature·2026
Same author

Combining Population Genomics With Ancient DNA to Understand Island Colonisation History of the Madagascar Turtle Dove.

Molecular ecology·2026
Same journal

The microlandscapes of tree trunks: the effect of lichen and tree-level characteristics on arthropod communities.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Centimetre-scale landscapes to assess the motion behaviour and cognition of gastropods and bivalves.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Intertidal microcosms of wave-swept rocky shores: ecological and physiological insights from a uniquely stressful environment.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Temporal and spatial variation in temperature and oxygen at the microscale: key niche axes for aquatic life.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Natural microcosms in ecology: fulfilling the promise of model systems?

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Microbe-induced galls and plant defence: metabolite crosstalk in a co-evolutionary battle.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 9, 2026

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

5.3K

Human evolution: a tale from ancient genomes.

Bastien Llamas1, Eske Willerslev2,3,4, Ludovic Orlando5,6

  • 1Australian Centre for ADNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|December 21, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human ancient DNA (aDNA) studies have evolved into a genomic discipline, revolutionizing our understanding of human history and evolution. Emerging epigenome analysis promises new insights into past adaptation and disease susceptibility.

Keywords:
Archaic homininsancient DNAanthropologyhuman evolution

More Related Videos

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

20.9K
Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
08:57

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

16.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026

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

5.3K
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

20.9K
Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
08:57

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

16.6K

Area of Science:

  • Paleogenomics
  • Human Evolutionary Genetics
  • Genomic History

Background:

  • Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis has transitioned from limited mitochondrial sequencing to comprehensive genomic studies.
  • This field has significantly advanced our understanding of human evolutionary history.
  • Early aDNA research faced challenges with contamination and limited biological insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the evolution of human ancient DNA (aDNA) research from its early stages to a genomic discipline.
  • To discuss the impact of aDNA on understanding human history and evolutionary past.
  • To introduce the potential of epigenome analysis in aDNA research for insights into adaptation and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic sequencing of ancient hominins.
  • Population genomic analyses of ancient populations, including Bronze Age groups.
  • Emerging techniques for analyzing ancient epigenomes.

Main Results:

  • Successful sequencing of extinct hominins.
  • Comprehensive population genomic studies of ancient human groups.
  • Demonstration of aDNA's transformative impact on understanding human evolutionary history.

Conclusions:

  • Human ancient DNA (aDNA) research is now a pivotal genomic discipline reshaping our view of human history.
  • The analysis of past epigenomes represents a promising frontier for understanding human adaptation and disease susceptibility over time.
  • Ancient human genetics has evolved from a niche area to a major contributor to evolutionary science.