quote: The researchers determined that one of the mummified individuals belongs to an ancestral group, or haplogroup, called I2, believed to have originated in Western Asia. They also retrieved genetic material from the pathogens that cause malaria and toxoplasmosis, and from a range of plants that includes fir and pine — both thought to be components of embalming resins — as well as castor, linseed, olive, almond and lotus.
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quote: We applied, for the first time, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology on Egyptian mummies. Seven NGS datasets obtained from five randomly selected Third Intermediate to Graeco-Roman Egyptian mummies (806 BC–124AD) and two unearthed pre-contact Bolivian lowland skeletons were generated and characterised. The datasets were contrasted to three recently published NGS datasets obtained from cold-climate regions, i.e. the Saqqaq, the Denisova hominid and the Alpine Iceman. Analysis was done using one million reads of each newly generated or published dataset. Blastn and megablast results were analysed using MEGAN software. Distinct NGS results were replicated by specific and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols in ancient DNA dedicated laboratories. Here, we provide unambiguous identification of authentic DNA in Egyptian mummies. The NGS datasets showed variable contents of endogenous DNA harboured in tissues. Three of five mummies displayed a human DNA proportion comparable to the human read count of the Saqqaq permafrost-preserved specimen. Furthermore, a metagenomic signature unique to mummies was displayed. By applying a “bacterial fingerprint”, discrimination among mummies and other remains from warm areas outside Egypt was possible. Due to the absence of an adequate environment monitoring, a bacterial bloom was identified when analysing different biopsies from the same mummies taken after a lapse of time of 1.5 years. Plant kingdom representation in all mummy datasets was unique and could be partially associated with their use in embalming materials. Finally, NGS data showed the presence of Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii DNA sequences, indicating malaria and toxoplasmosis in these mummies. We demonstrate that endogenous ancient DNA can be extracted from mummies and serve as a proper template for the NGS technique, thus, opening new pathways of investigation for future genome sequencing of ancient Egyptian individuals.
posted
See all publications from from Carsten M. Pusch. It is clear that this similar data set has been used.
Posts: 2463 | From: New Jersey USA | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
They have used the similar set of mummies in other studies. I will have the find the study but the 4 of 5 randome they chose last time were all dated to greco roman times. Sometimes specific researchers will keep using the same groups of material over and over for different things. Depends on where they study...what they have access too etc.
Do you have University access to see this publication?
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posted
I've been wanting to hear something about the specifics of the Eurasian haplogroups in Ancient Egypt, just to get some information on where those foreigners could have come from, and possibly get some information about the magnitude of the demographic changes pertaining to the Islamic period.
This Y chromosome (assuming it is a Y chromosome and not mtDNA), matches with what one might expect of Greco-Roman era mummies, since it features in the Balkan. Of course, it could also be much older, but it isn't an important group in Modern Egypt.
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posted
^ I too assume it is Y-chromosome since as you say I2 is very common in the Balkan area so would definitely tie to Macedonians if not Greeks. Though hg I* is found in some frequency interestingly south of Egypt in the Sudan. Mitochondrial hg I generally has a low frequency throughout western Eurasia (Europe, Southwest Asia,) and Central Asia and northern India, though I've read that it occurs in a few Cushitic speaking populations in East Africa.
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quote: . To substantiate those speculations, molecular analyses were carried out on sixteen mummified heads recovered from the necropolis of Abusir el Meleq (Fayum) dating from the 3rd Intermediate Period (1064- 656 BC) to the Roman Period (30 BC- 300 AD).
quote: astly, concomitant PCR amplification of P. falciparum and M. tuberculosis complex DNA specific fragments was obtained in four mummies, three of which are 14 C dated to the Late and Graeco-Roman Periods. Our data confirm that the hydrography of Fayum was extremely conducive to the spread of malaria. They also support the notion that the agricultural boom and dense crowding occurred in this region, especially under the Ptolemies,
quote: the present studýs aim was to detect and characterize P. falciparum and MTB complex DNAs in sixteen mummified heads from Lower Egypt and, eventually, to verify, the existence of co-infections.
Posts: 2463 | From: New Jersey USA | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
There are some interesting links to other forums in Mazigh's date of berber marker M81 thread people should look at, very in depth discussion of DNA as per the article and may suggest new dating on certain hgs
There could even be an indirect tie in since the 3rd Intermediate includes the berber dynasty
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