Genealogy: The Tree Where History Meets Genetics

Developing World Bioethics, 2003

This summary lays out the basic science and methodology used in genetic testing that investigates historical population migrations and the ancestry of living individuals. The genetic markers used in this testing, and the distinction between Y-chromosome, mitochrondial and autosomes analysis, are explained and the shortcomings of these methodologies are explored.

This summary lays out the basic science and methodology used in genetic testing that investigates historical population migrations and the ancestry of living individuals. The genetic markers used in this testing, and the distinction between Y-chromosome, mitochrondial and autosomes analysis, are explained and the shortcomings of these methodologies are explored.

Annals of human biology, 2018

This study relies on the discovery of two pit burials (LTA and LTB) of the Bronze Age Cogotas I archaeological culture (circa 3600-2950 BP) in Spain. LTA was a single burial and LTB contained three skeletal remains of two adults and a newborn or foetus at term. The central question posed by this find was whether the LTB tomb constituted a traditional nuclear family (father, mother and son or daughter). Ancient and forensic DNA protocols were employed to obtain reliable results. Autosomal, X-STR markers and mitochondrial DNA were amplified. Subsequently, different kinship probabilities were estimated by means of LR values calculated using the Familias 3 software. Furthermore, an allelic dropout sensitivity test was developed in order to evaluate the influence of allelic dropout phenomena on the results. It was possible to determine the molecular sex of all individuals and to establish a maternal relationship between the perinatal individual and one of the adults. The remains in the L...

Kinship, Sex, and Biological Relatedness : The contribution of archaeogenetics to the understanding of social and biological relations

The 15th Archaeological Conference of Central Germany was dedicated to the archaeological and natural-scientific possibilities of evaluating family relations in pre- and protohistoric times. The goal was to cast a critical focus on a quickly advancing natural-scientific development of archaeogenetics and on the increasing number of archaeogenetic studies of biological kinship in human history. The aim of the conference was to discuss and clarify the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of this relatively young field of research, which combines genetics, social anthropology, physical anthropology, and archaeology. Uncovering the diversity of various approaches primarily in regard to the understanding of kinship and promoting the discussion between disciplines and approaches were therefore at the centre of attention. This plurality of concepts and interpretations has not been restricted or standardised in the present conference volume, reflecting the wide range of socio-cultural, genetic, archaeological, and historical research approaches and contributions. No claim to be exhaustive in the sense of a textbook can be made if for no other reason than because this field of research, which is still young, has not ceased to evolve dynamically. Another aim of the conference was to examine the heuristic possibilities of this debate and the transferability of various approaches using various case studies (Fig. 1). Ultimately, the studies that make previously invisible areas of interpersonal relationships and organisation accessible through the analysis of ancient DNA will lead to the most promising results.

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Knowing kinship relations between individuals in archeological contexts is of great importance to understand social habits and structure in past human communities. Archeological and anthropological analyses of burial sites and skeletal remains often allow us to infer connections between individuals, but only genetic analysis can provide a sound determination of kinship. Several case studies are now available in the literature that show the potentiality and limitations of different methodological approaches based on ancient DNA (aDNA). Both experimental and computational strategies for kinship estimation on ancient samples are described in this review and we argue that, within a multidisciplinary approach, kinship inference contributes to the understanding of the biological and cultural patterns that characterized past societies.

Recovered and amplified ancient DNA (aDNA), from a historically documented 19th century Upper Canadian pioneer cemetery produced genotypes that were used to infer a past societal kinship system. While the results from multiplex short tandem repeat (STR) amplifications showed an unreliable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, a single locus HUMTH01 analysis yielded reproducible data and an allelic frequency pattern not statistically different from modern populations. Mitochondrial (mt) DNA HVR II data showed that a combined cemetery database exhibited reduced haplotype diversity indicators, as well as clusters of probable maternally related burials. The chronological persistence and replacement of mtDNA clusters approximately every two generations suggests a patrilineal/patrilocal kinship structure from a virilocal burial program for the Harmony Road cemetery. Through the integration of the aDNA analysis with archaeological material culture, historic records, and other ethnohistoric sources of information, this conclusion is supported. In this study persisting patrilineally inherited surnames act as a surrogate for aDNA Y-chromosome haplotype analysis. These results suggest that aDNA applications on aggregate skeletal collections where sparse, or no ethnological or historical documentation exists, may result in incorrect population history inferences if the presence of a kinship interment bias is not considered.

Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, 2019

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2014

The analysis of ancient DNA recovered from archaeological remains can be used to reconstruct kinship among the occupants of a necropolis and provide a more detailed portrait of the community considered. Such palaeogenetic analyses have been conducted on sarcophagi excavated from the Merovingian necropolis in Jau-Dignac et Loirac (7the8th century AD, Aquitaine, southwest France). The genetic study consisted of the analysis of mitochondrial DNA and nuclear STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) from nine skeletons deposited in three grouped sarcophagi. Only data concerning the mitochondrial genomes could be obtained, and six different mitochondrial lineages were retrieved from eight samples. Our analyses permitted a high confidence characterisation of maternal relationships between individuals deposited in the same sepulchre. These results are important and novel for the period and region and argue that individuals were grouped inside sarcophagi according to relationship criteria. The presence of perinatal remains in one sarcophagus was particularly striking because access to this type of funerary structure during this period was generally reserved for older children. Moreover, we demonstrated genetically that the perinatal remains were not related maternally to two women found in the same sarcophagus (whereas the maternal relationship between the two young women could be determined), and we proposed different possible explanations for this unexpected observation. Overall, archaeological, anthropological and genetic data suggest that the Jau-Dignac et Loirac necropolis groups together the closely and distantly related members of a High Middle Ages familia. Our ancient DNA analyses note the important contribution of palaeogenetic analyses to archaeological kinship studies.

In 2005 four outstanding multiple burials were discovered near Eulau, Germany. The 4,600-year-old graves contained groups of adults and children buried facing each other. Skeletal and artifactual evidence and the simultaneous interment of the individuals suggest the supposed families fell victim to a violent event. In a multidisciplinary approach, archaeological, anthropological, geochemical (radiogenic isotopes), and molecular genetic (ancient DNA) methods were applied to these unique burials. Using autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosomal markers, we identified genetic kinship among the individuals. A direct child-parent relationship was detected in one burial, providing the oldest molecular genetic evidence of a nuclear family. Strontium isotope analyses point to different origins for males and children versus females. By this approach, we gain insight into a Late Stone Age society, which appears to have been exogamous and patrilocal, and in which genetic kinship seems to be a focal point of social organization.