Ancient DNA Research: Ongoing Challenges and Contribution to Medical Sciences

INTRODUCTION Ancient DNA (aDNA) research has been an active field in molecular biology for over 30 years. Developing techniques has led to detailed studies that shed light on our past, future and interactions with the world we live in. Secrets of our ancient ancestors are revealed by working with archeological/paleontological samples, answering questions on our shared life on our planet. The recovery of DNA sequences from skeletal remains such as bones and teeth, reveal the genetic and evolutionary history of man; while also shedding light on the migration routes and demographic processes populations have undergone. In addition, aDNA studies have revealed environmental crises affecting population bottlenecks and demographic dynamics of several megafauna species up until their extinction. Data from ancient DNA is also a very important tool to draw conclusions about the mode and pace of evolutionary processes for reconstructing the phenotypic properties of prehistoric groups, and to consider the relative effects of selection and demography in changing allele frequencies within human populations (1). In addition to human studies, investigations on animals and plants are also extensively performed in aDNA research. These studies contribute to our knowledge on evolutionary processes occurring in animals and plants, extinct species, changes in genetic diversity in populations, the interaction of changes in the population with geographic location and determination of phylogenetic relationships (2). ABSTRACT