Phenotypes from ancient DNA: approaches, insights and prospects

G.G. Fortes; C.F. Speller; M. Hofreiter; T.E. King

doi:10.1002/bies.201300036

Phenotypes from ancient DNA: approaches, insights and prospects

G.G. Fortes, C.F. Speller, M. Hofreiter, T.E. King

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The great majority of phenotypic characteristics are complex traits, complicating the identification of the genes underlying their expression. However, both methodological and theoretical progress in genome-wide association studies have resulted in a much better understanding of the underlying genetics of many phenotypic traits, including externally visible characteristics (EVCs) such as eye and hair color. Consequently, it has become possible to predict EVCs from human samples lacking phenotypic information. Predicting EVCs from genetic evidence is clearly appealing for forensic applications involving the personal identification of human remains. Now, a recent paper has reported the genetic determination of eye and hair color in samples up to 800 years old. The ability to predict EVCs from ancient human remains opens up promising perspectives for ancient DNA research, as this could allow studies to directly address archaeological and evolutionary questions related to the temporal and geographical origins of the genetic variants underlying phenotypes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	690-695
Journal	Bioessays
Volume	35
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201300036
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2013

Access to Document

10.1002/bies.201300036

Cite this

@article{07d68715ceee4c67a46cc895c91dbcb6,

title = "Phenotypes from ancient DNA: approaches, insights and prospects",

abstract = "The great majority of phenotypic characteristics are complex traits, complicating the identification of the genes underlying their expression. However, both methodological and theoretical progress in genome-wide association studies have resulted in a much better understanding of the underlying genetics of many phenotypic traits, including externally visible characteristics (EVCs) such as eye and hair color. Consequently, it has become possible to predict EVCs from human samples lacking phenotypic information. Predicting EVCs from genetic evidence is clearly appealing for forensic applications involving the personal identification of human remains. Now, a recent paper has reported the genetic determination of eye and hair color in samples up to 800 years old. The ability to predict EVCs from ancient human remains opens up promising perspectives for ancient DNA research, as this could allow studies to directly address archaeological and evolutionary questions related to the temporal and geographical origins of the genetic variants underlying phenotypes.",

author = "G.G. Fortes and C.F. Speller and M. Hofreiter and T.E. King",

year = "2013",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1002/bies.201300036",

language = "English",

volume = "35",

pages = "690--695",

journal = "Bioessays",

issn = "0265-9247",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Phenotypes from ancient DNA

T2 - approaches, insights and prospects

AU - Fortes, G.G.

AU - Speller, C.F.

AU - Hofreiter, M.

AU - King, T.E.

PY - 2013/8/1

Y1 - 2013/8/1

N2 - The great majority of phenotypic characteristics are complex traits, complicating the identification of the genes underlying their expression. However, both methodological and theoretical progress in genome-wide association studies have resulted in a much better understanding of the underlying genetics of many phenotypic traits, including externally visible characteristics (EVCs) such as eye and hair color. Consequently, it has become possible to predict EVCs from human samples lacking phenotypic information. Predicting EVCs from genetic evidence is clearly appealing for forensic applications involving the personal identification of human remains. Now, a recent paper has reported the genetic determination of eye and hair color in samples up to 800 years old. The ability to predict EVCs from ancient human remains opens up promising perspectives for ancient DNA research, as this could allow studies to directly address archaeological and evolutionary questions related to the temporal and geographical origins of the genetic variants underlying phenotypes.

AB - The great majority of phenotypic characteristics are complex traits, complicating the identification of the genes underlying their expression. However, both methodological and theoretical progress in genome-wide association studies have resulted in a much better understanding of the underlying genetics of many phenotypic traits, including externally visible characteristics (EVCs) such as eye and hair color. Consequently, it has become possible to predict EVCs from human samples lacking phenotypic information. Predicting EVCs from genetic evidence is clearly appealing for forensic applications involving the personal identification of human remains. Now, a recent paper has reported the genetic determination of eye and hair color in samples up to 800 years old. The ability to predict EVCs from ancient human remains opens up promising perspectives for ancient DNA research, as this could allow studies to directly address archaeological and evolutionary questions related to the temporal and geographical origins of the genetic variants underlying phenotypes.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880330069&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/bies.201300036

DO - 10.1002/bies.201300036

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84880330069

SN - 0265-9247

VL - 35

SP - 690

EP - 695

JO - Bioessays

JF - Bioessays

IS - 8

ER -

Phenotypes from ancient DNA: approaches, insights and prospects

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this