• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2018

This study compared two methods for preparing ancient DNA (aDNA) for the construction of successful shotgun libraries that may be applied to massive parallel sequencing. For the comparative analysis, the DNA of prehistoric rib samples from Hungary was extracted using either a manually prepared silica suspension or the Amicon Ultracel-15 10K ultracentrifugal device (Millipore). After the extraction of the same amount of bone powder (about 150 mg) from three samples by each method, the amount of extracted double-stranded DNA and the subsequent degree of construction of the shotgun library were analyzed. The Amicon device method was rapid and easier to perform and resulted in an approximately 11-fold higher DNA recovery than that obtained using the silica suspension. The shotgun library constructed using DNA templates prepared by the Amicon device was more successful than that constructed from templates isolated using the silica suspension. The comparative study of these two aDNA extraction methods showed that the Amicon device has the advantages of saving time, process simplicity, and high efficiency.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2015

Analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) extracted from Ascaris is very important for understanding the phylogenetic lineage of the parasite species. When aDNAs obtained from a Joseon tomb (SN2-19-1) coprolite in which Ascaris eggs were identified were amplified with primers for cytochrome b (cyt b) and 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene, the outcome exhibited Ascaris specific amplicon bands. By cloning, sequencing, and analysis of the amplified DNA, we obtained information valuable for comprehending genetic lineage of Ascaris prevalent among pre-modern Joseon peoples.

• Anatomy & Biological Anthropology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.105-119
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• 2018

Archaeogenetics is an academic discipline that aims to establish scientific facts of human history by integrating ancient DNA analyses with archaeological and anthropological evidence. After ancient DNA research was initiated about 30 years ago, it has been innovated so rapidly that the range of analysis has been extended toward the whole genome sequence of ancient genomes in recent 10 years. By this development, researchers have been able to study in detail the origins and migration patterns of hominin species and ancient human populations by approaches of evolutionary genetics. This study has reviewed main principles of the archaeogenetic analysis and the current trends of ancient genome studies with recent achievements. While sampling techniques and statistical analyses have been improved, typical research methods have been established by the findings on hominins and ancient western Eurasia populations. Recently, archaeogenecists have been applying the methods to studying those in other geographical areas. Nonetheless, there is still the lack of ancient genome research about populations in Eastern Asia including the Korean peninsula. This review ultimately aims to predict possibilities and promise of future ancient genome studies of ancient Korean populations.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.325-330
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• 2005

Ancient cattle bones were excavated from archaeological sites in Jeju, Korea. We used molecular genetic techniques to identify the species and establish its relationship to extant cattle breeds. Ancient DNA was extracted from four sources: a humerus (Gonae site, A.D. 700-800), two fragments of radius, and a tooth (Kwakji site, A.D. 0-900). The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop regions were cloned, sequenced, and compared with previously reported sequences of various cattle breeds (9 Asian, 8 European, and 3 African). The results revealed that these bones were of the breed, Bos taurus, and a phylogenetic tree indicated that the four cattle bones formed a monophyletic group with Jeju native black cattle. However, the patterns of sequence variation and reports from archaeological sites suggest that a few wild cattle, with a different maternal lineage, may have existed on Jeju Island. Our results will contribute to further studies of the origin of Jeju native cattle and the possible existence of local wild cattle.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2014

Most human bones of Joseon Dynasty period are so good condition that we can do research in physical anthropology, genetics and chemistry with them. In this study, we analyzed DNA typing using 6 human bones of Joseon dynasty period excavated at Janggi-dong, Gimpo. The DNA typing was mitochondrial DNA haplotype, Y-chromosome haplotype and sex determination. Prior to DNA analysis, we distinguished histological index of 6 human bones. As the result of mitochondrial DNA analysis, most of bones were confirmed as haplogroup G, R11, M7, A5, etc. As the result of sex determination, 4 human bones were female and 2 human bones were male. The male haplogroup was confirmed as haplogroup O by the single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of Y chromosome. For extensive ancient human bone analysis, researchers need to apply a histological index to select ancient human bones and explain a relationship among ancient human bones with various analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.28
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• pp.75-90
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• 2007

The ancient biomolecular remains are the potential source for paleobiology and paleoanthropology. Especially, ancient human specimens such as bone, teeth, and hair are powerful materials to identify historical origin and migration of ancestor population from the past. However, most excavated human specimens in archaeological sites have commonly problems as natural damage and exogenous contamination. We carried out histological and molecular analyses of excavated bone from the historic sites in South Korea from the recently discovered in tumulus of Seochun and Naju. Biological deterioration of bone was observed anatomically by optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM). We extracted degraded DNA, and amplified hyper variable region (HVR) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and amelogenin of nucleus DNA. This study applied and examined the relationships between histological preservation and DNA survival in excavated bone.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.35
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• pp.120-137
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• 2002

It has not been a long time since we recognize that a word 'DNA' is not unfamiliar with us. Development of biology give us so much of benefits of civilization and so we call the 21th century as 'biological period'. It has not been a long time that archeology made contact with biology. With biological development, DNA typing analysis has been accomplished extensively since 1990's. We know through mitochondrial DNA base sequencing analysis that the Neanderthal man is not the origin of the human race and ancient human race set out from Africa. Biological science technology, which is polymerase chain reaction(PCR) or electrophoresis etc., made these results possible. A contact between biology, especially genetics, and archeology is getting accomplished through these current. If genetics keep in contact with archeological foundation, we know not only about ancient populations in the Korean Peninsula, but also origin of human race. This field is so-called 'DNA Archeology'. This field is of help to person identification and children discrimination as like a forensic science. We make every effort for great possibilities from co-ownership of these two fields and these fields needs to convert a recognition, especially.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.28-35
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• 2004

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

From ancient Antarctic glacier ice, we extracted total genomic DNA that was suitable for prokaryotic 16S rDNA gene cloning and sequencing, and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library and end-sequencing. The ice samples were from the Dry Valley region. Age dating by $^{40}Ar/^{39}Ar$ analysis on the volcanic ashes deposited in situ indicated the ice samples are minimum 100,000-300,000 yr (sample DLE) and 8 million years (sample EME) old. Further assay proved the ice survived freeze-thaw cycles or other re-working processes. EME, which was from a small lobe of the basal Taylor glacier, is the oldest known ice on Earth. Microorganisms, preserved frozen in glacier ice and isolated from the rest of the world over a geological time scale, can provide valuable data or insight for the diversity, distribution, survival strategy, and evolutionary relationships to the extant relatives. From the 16S gene cloning study, we detected no PCR amplicons with Archaea-specific primers, however we found many phylotypes belonging to Bacteria divisions, such as Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria $({\alpha},\;{\beta},\;and\;{\gamma})$, Firmicutes, and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroid$. BAC cloning and sequencing revealed protein codings highly identical to phenylacetic acid degradation protein paaA, chromosome segregation ATPases, or cold shock protein B of present day bacteria. Throughput sequencing of the BAC clones is underway. Viable and culturable cells were recovered from the DLE sample, and characterized by their 16S rDNA sequences. Further investigation on the survivorship and functional genes from the past should help unveil the evolution of life on Earth, or elsewhere, if any.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2023

Lactase non-persistence (LNP), one of the causes of lactose intolerance, is related to lactase gene associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Since the frequency of LNP varies by ethnic group and country, the research to reveal the presence or absence of LNP for specific people has been conducted worldwide. However, in East Asia, the study of lactase gene associated SNPs have not been sufficiently examined so far using ancient human specimens from archaeological sites. In our study of Joseon period human remains (n=14), we successfully revealed genetic information of lactase gene associated SNPs (rs1679771596, rs41525747, rs4988236, rs4988235, rs41380347, rs869051967, rs145946881 and rs182549), further confirming that as for eight SNPs, the pre-modern Korean people had a lactase non-persistent genotype. Our report contributes to the establishment of LNP associated SNP analysis technique that can be useful in forthcoming studies on human bones and mummy samples from East Asian archaeological sites.