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Related Experiment Videos

Ancient DNA from Polynesian rats: extraction, amplification and sequence from single small bones

E Matisoo-Smith1, J S Allen, T N Ladefoged

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland, New Zealand. e.matisoo-smith@auckland.ac.nz

Electrophoresis
|August 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Ancient DNA analysis of the Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) provides insights into Polynesian migration. Modified methods successfully extracted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from ancient rodent remains.

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Area of Science:

  • Archaeogenetics
  • Paleogenomics
  • Pacific Prehistory

Background:

  • Human colonization of Polynesia involved significant transoceanic migrations.
  • Understanding Pacific population origins is a long-standing multidisciplinary challenge.
  • Ancient DNA studies are increasingly applied to Pacific prehistory research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present ancient DNA analyses of Rattus exulans (Pacific rat).
  • To investigate the utility of R. exulans as a proxy for ancestral Polynesian movements.
  • To detail optimized ancient DNA extraction methods for small rodent remains.

Main Methods:

  • Modified standard ancient DNA extraction protocols.
  • Extraction, amplification, and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of R. exulans bone and tooth samples (0.1 g) from archaeological sites.

    • Main Results:

    • Successful recovery of ancient mtDNA from small R. exulans samples.
    • Demonstrated feasibility of using ancient rodent DNA for migration studies.
    • Data obtained from samples ranging from 400 to 2000 years old.

    Conclusions:

    • Ancient DNA from Rattus exulans is a viable tool for tracing Polynesian expansion.
    • Optimized methods overcome challenges of ancient DNA recovery from small specimens.
    • This approach offers a valuable complement to human ancient DNA studies in the Pacific.