Comments on: Recovering 1,000 Year Old Viking mtDNA http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/ Beyond bones & stones Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:03:54 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Luis http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/#comment-11247 Luis Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:28:48 +0000 http://anthropologynet.wordpress.com/?p=868#comment-11247 The paper does not mention any replicated results or analysis. I still think this is a good test for other reasons the authors state (similitude with previous regional aDNA tests, large array of resulting haplogroups, extreme unprecedented profilactic measures since the digging...) but it seems like a methodological flaw in any case. Other aDNA analysis lacking replication (notably Australian Lake Mungo remains, that yielded quite odd results and will probably never be tested again because of native burial laws) have been subject of heavy criticisms. Obviously this is more likely to happen if the results are very unexpected, not if they fall within expectations as in this case. The paper does not mention any replicated results or analysis. I still think this is a good test for other reasons the authors state (similitude with previous regional aDNA tests, large array of resulting haplogroups, extreme unprecedented profilactic measures since the digging…) but it seems like a methodological flaw in any case. Other aDNA analysis lacking replication (notably Australian Lake Mungo remains, that yielded quite odd results and will probably never be tested again because of native burial laws) have been subject of heavy criticisms. Obviously this is more likely to happen if the results are very unexpected, not if they fall within expectations as in this case.

]]> By: Kambiz Kamrani http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/#comment-11242 Kambiz Kamrani Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:08:42 +0000 http://anthropologynet.wordpress.com/?p=868#comment-11242 Luis, thanks for clarification. My first comment was written in haste, I now better understand Kevin's comment and I agree, the data will need to be reconfirmed in another lab. I remember reading in another aDNA paper where the lab that did the preliminary testing sent the samples to another, unassociated lab (with new primers, reagents, equipment) and asked them to replicate the results. I'm surprised it wasn't done in this paper! Kambiz Luis, thanks for clarification. My first comment was written in haste, I now better understand Kevin’s comment and I agree, the data will need to be reconfirmed in another lab.

I remember reading in another aDNA paper where the lab that did the preliminary testing sent the samples to another, unassociated lab (with new primers, reagents, equipment) and asked them to replicate the results. I’m surprised it wasn’t done in this paper!

Kambiz

]]> By: Luis http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/#comment-11239 Luis Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:43:09 +0000 http://anthropologynet.wordpress.com/?p=868#comment-11239 <i>Kevin, I don’t quite understand your comment. Care to rephrase it? </i> He obviously means that it's proper academic procedure to replicate all tests independently to check for any possible errors, specially in such a delicate and often controversial field. Personally I think they did their best to prevent contamination but certainly replication is a must in any case. Even if contamination is discarded there are other possible sources of errors, like DNA degradation. Kevin, I don’t quite understand your comment. Care to rephrase it?

He obviously means that it’s proper academic procedure to replicate all tests independently to check for any possible errors, specially in such a delicate and often controversial field.

Personally I think they did their best to prevent contamination but certainly replication is a must in any case. Even if contamination is discarded there are other possible sources of errors, like DNA degradation.

]]> By: 4,000-year-old frozen hair mtDNA sequenced from a Greenlandic Saqqaq settlement « Anthropology.net http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/#comment-11161 4,000-year-old frozen hair mtDNA sequenced from a Greenlandic Saqqaq settlement « Anthropology.net Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:24:14 +0000 http://anthropologynet.wordpress.com/?p=868#comment-11161 [...] the other ancient DNA paper we heard about earlier this week, the authors of this paper decided to sequence the complete ancient human mtDNA genome. The FLX [...] [...] the other ancient DNA paper we heard about earlier this week, the authors of this paper decided to sequence the complete ancient human mtDNA genome. The FLX [...]

]]> By: Kambiz Kamrani http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/#comment-11096 Kambiz Kamrani Thu, 29 May 2008 05:07:56 +0000 http://anthropologynet.wordpress.com/?p=868#comment-11096 Kevin, I don't quite understand your comment. Care to rephrase it? Are you suggesting the mtDNA from this study is strictly from the excavators, or through the excavation, and not directly from the samples? Kambiz Kevin, I don’t quite understand your comment. Care to rephrase it? Are you suggesting the mtDNA from this study is strictly from the excavators, or through the excavation, and not directly from the samples?

Kambiz

]]> By: Kevin http://anthropology.net/2008/05/28/recovering-1000-year-old-viking-mtdna/#comment-11088 Kevin Wed, 28 May 2008 23:44:04 +0000 http://anthropologynet.wordpress.com/?p=868#comment-11088 I'll believe it when someone replicates the analysis of the DNA. All the other DNA that has supposedly been found has been from contamination. I’ll believe it when someone replicates the analysis of the DNA. All the other DNA that has supposedly been found has been from contamination.

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