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Aizpurua O, Dunn RR, Hansen LH, Gilbert MTP, Alberdi A. Field and laboratory guidelines for reliable bioinformatic and statistical analysis of bacterial shotgun metagenomic data. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023:1-19. [PMID: 37731336 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2254933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Shotgun metagenomics is an increasingly cost-effective approach for profiling environmental and host-associated microbial communities. However, due to the complexity of both microbiomes and the molecular techniques required to analyze them, the reliability and representativeness of the results are contingent upon the field, laboratory, and bioinformatic procedures employed. Here, we consider 15 field and laboratory issues that critically impact downstream bioinformatic and statistical data processing, as well as result interpretation, in bacterial shotgun metagenomic studies. The issues we consider encompass intrinsic properties of samples, study design, and laboratory-processing strategies. We identify the links of field and laboratory steps with downstream analytical procedures, explain the means for detecting potential pitfalls, and propose mitigation measures to overcome or minimize their impact in metagenomic studies. We anticipate that our guidelines will assist data scientists in appropriately processing and interpreting their data, while aiding field and laboratory researchers to implement strategies for improving the quality of the generated results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ostaizka Aizpurua
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lars H Hansen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - M T P Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- University Museum, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Antton Alberdi
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Whitelaw BL, Cooke IR, Finn J, da Fonseca RR, Ritschard EA, Gilbert MTP, Simakov O, Strugnell JM. Adaptive venom evolution and toxicity in octopods is driven by extensive novel gene formation, expansion, and loss. Gigascience 2020; 9:giaa120. [PMID: 33175168 PMCID: PMC7656900 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cephalopods represent a rich system for investigating the genetic basis underlying organismal novelties. This diverse group of specialized predators has evolved many adaptations including proteinaceous venom. Of particular interest is the blue-ringed octopus genus (Hapalochlaena), which are the only octopods known to store large quantities of the potent neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, within their tissues and venom gland. FINDINGS To reveal genomic correlates of organismal novelties, we conducted a comparative study of 3 octopod genomes, including the Southern blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa). We present the genome of this species and reveal highly dynamic evolutionary patterns at both non-coding and coding organizational levels. Gene family expansions previously reported in Octopus bimaculoides (e.g., zinc finger and cadherins, both associated with neural functions), as well as formation of novel gene families, dominate the genomic landscape in all octopods. Examination of tissue-specific genes in the posterior salivary gland revealed that expression was dominated by serine proteases in non-tetrodotoxin-bearing octopods, while this family was a minor component in H. maculosa. Moreover, voltage-gated sodium channels in H. maculosa contain a resistance mutation found in pufferfish and garter snakes, which is exclusive to the genus. Analysis of the posterior salivary gland microbiome revealed a diverse array of bacterial species, including genera that can produce tetrodotoxin, suggestive of a possible production source. CONCLUSIONS We present the first tetrodotoxin-bearing octopod genome H. maculosa, which displays lineage-specific adaptations to tetrodotoxin acquisition. This genome, along with other recently published cephalopod genomes, represents a valuable resource from which future work could advance our understanding of the evolution of genomic novelty in this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L Whitelaw
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Dr, Douglas QLD 4811 , Australia
- Sciences, Museum Victoria, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Ira R Cooke
- College of Public Health, Medical and Vet Sciences, James Cook University,1 James Cook Dr, Douglas QLD 4811 , Australia
- La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Plenty Rd &, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Julian Finn
- Sciences, Museum Victoria, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Rute R da Fonseca
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC), GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena A Ritschard
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna,Universitätsring 1, 1010 Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - M T P Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna,Universitätsring 1, 1010 Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan M Strugnell
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Dr, Douglas QLD 4811 , Australia
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Plenty Rd &, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Smith O, Dunshea G, Sinding MHS, Fedorov S, Germonpre M, Bocherens H, Gilbert MTP. Ancient RNA from Late Pleistocene permafrost and historical canids shows tissue-specific transcriptome survival. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000166. [PMID: 31361744 PMCID: PMC6667121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
While sequencing ancient DNA (aDNA) from archaeological material is now commonplace, very few attempts to sequence ancient transcriptomes have been made, even from typically stable deposition environments such as permafrost. This is presumably due to assumptions that RNA completely degrades relatively quickly, particularly when dealing with autolytic, nuclease-rich mammalian tissues. However, given the recent successes in sequencing ancient RNA (aRNA) from various sources including plants and animals, we suspect that these assumptions may be incorrect or exaggerated. To challenge the underlying dogma, we generated shotgun RNA data from sources that might normally be dismissed for such study. Here, we present aRNA data generated from two historical wolf skins, and permafrost-preserved liver tissue of a 14,300-year-old Pleistocene canid. Not only is the latter the oldest RNA ever to be sequenced, but it also shows evidence of biologically relevant tissue specificity and close similarity to equivalent data derived from modern-day control tissue. Other hallmarks of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data such as exon-exon junction presence and high endogenous ribosomal RNA (rRNA) content confirms our data’s authenticity. By performing independent technical library replicates using two high-throughput sequencing platforms, we show not only that aRNA can survive for extended periods in mammalian tissues but also that it has potential for tissue identification. aRNA also has possible further potential, such as identifying in vivo genome activity and adaptation, when sequenced using this technology. Ancient DNA is known to survive in cold environments for tens of millennia, but it is assumed that ancient RNA could not persist in such a way due to its relative instability. However, this study shows that under permafrost conditions, ancient RNA can survive well enough to show tissue specificity even in mammalian soft tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Smith
- Section for Evogenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Glenn Dunshea
- Section for Evogenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding
- Section for Evogenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Sergey Fedorov
- Mammoth Museum, Institute of Applied Ecology of the North of the North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Mietje Germonpre
- Directorate Earth and History of Life, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hervé Bocherens
- Department of Geosciences, Palaeobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - M. T. P. Gilbert
- Section for Evogenomics, The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
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Abstract
I bought a robotic vacuum cleaner this summer and set it to work. Although my initial expectations were not high, my robot (christened Buddy) finished its cleaning cycle, and then insistently demanded that I empty its dust collection box. As I took the box out, my jaw dropped. I live in a modern house, we don't have pets, and I like to think that I keep it reasonably dust free. But, there was much dust in that box. And when I ran it again 2 days later, the same thing happened. And indeed, every 2 days, Buddy dutifully goes to work, and sucks up a similarly impressive quantity. It's remarkable, and naturally begs the question of where it all comes from? Some is externally derived, entering the house with us or through open windows. Some is clearly fibres shed from clothes, furniture etc. Then there's the skin cells and hair we shed. But at least part is derived from the host of smaller organisms that live in and around our homes, many of which are arthropods (Butte & Heinzow ). I suspect almost all readers are aware that some smaller animals live in our houses - even those who live in the modern urban houses will have occasionally encountered the odd drosophila, silverfish or spider. But I suspect that prior to reading Madden et al.'s article in this issue of Molecular Ecology (Madden et al. ), few of you will have appreciated the true diversity, which, it turns out, is huge.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T P Gilbert
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.,Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Museum, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
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Meredith RW, Zhang G, Gilbert MTP, Jarvis ED, Springer MS. Evidence for a single loss of mineralized teeth in the common avian ancestor. Science 2014; 346:1254390. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1254390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Warinner C, Hendy J, Speller C, Cappellini E, Fischer R, Trachsel C, Arneborg J, Lynnerup N, Craig OE, Swallow DM, Fotakis A, Christensen RJ, Olsen JV, Liebert A, Montalva N, Fiddyment S, Charlton S, Mackie M, Canci A, Bouwman A, Rühli F, Gilbert MTP, Collins MJ. Direct evidence of milk consumption from ancient human dental calculus. Sci Rep 2014; 4:7104. [PMID: 25429530 PMCID: PMC4245811 DOI: 10.1038/srep07104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Milk is a major food of global economic importance, and its consumption is regarded as a classic example of gene-culture evolution. Humans have exploited animal milk as a food resource for at least 8500 years, but the origins, spread, and scale of dairying remain poorly understood. Indirect lines of evidence, such as lipid isotopic ratios of pottery residues, faunal mortality profiles, and lactase persistence allele frequencies, provide a partial picture of this process; however, in order to understand how, where, and when humans consumed milk products, it is necessary to link evidence of consumption directly to individuals and their dairy livestock. Here we report the first direct evidence of milk consumption, the whey protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG), preserved in human dental calculus from the Bronze Age (ca. 3000 BCE) to the present day. Using protein tandem mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that BLG is a species-specific biomarker of dairy consumption, and we identify individuals consuming cattle, sheep, and goat milk products in the archaeological record. We then apply this method to human dental calculus from Greenland's medieval Norse colonies, and report a decline of this biomarker leading up to the abandonment of the Norse Greenland colonies in the 15th century CE.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Warinner
- 1] Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA [2] Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J Hendy
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - C Speller
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - E Cappellini
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R Fischer
- Henry Wellcome Building for Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Oxford, UK
| | - C Trachsel
- Functional Genomics Center Zürich, University of Zürich/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J Arneborg
- 1] National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - N Lynnerup
- Laboratory of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - O E Craig
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - D M Swallow
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - A Fotakis
- 1] Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R J Christensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J V Olsen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A Liebert
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - N Montalva
- 1] Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK [2] Department of Anthropology, University College London, London UK
| | - S Fiddyment
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - S Charlton
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - M Mackie
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
| | - A Canci
- Dipartimento di Archeologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Bouwman
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - F Rühli
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - M T P Gilbert
- 1] Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - M J Collins
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK
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Jacobsen MW, Pujolar JM, Gilbert MTP, Moreno-Mayar JV, Bernatchez L, Als TD, Lobon-Cervia J, Hansen MM. Speciation and demographic history of Atlantic eels (Anguilla anguilla and A. rostrata) revealed by mitogenome sequencing. Heredity (Edinb) 2014; 113:432-42. [PMID: 24865601 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2014.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Processes leading to speciation in oceanic environments without obvious physical barriers remain poorly known. European and American eel (Anguilla anguilla and A. rostrata) spawn in partial sympatry in the Sargasso Sea. Larvae are advected by the Gulf Stream and other currents towards the European/North African and North American coasts, respectively. We analyzed 104 mitogenomes from the two species along with mitogenomes of other Anguilla and outgroup species. We estimated divergence time between the two species to identify major events involved in speciation. We also considered two previously stated hypotheses: one where the ancestral species was present in only one continent but was advected across the Atlantic by ocean current changes and another where population declines during Pleistocene glaciations led to increasing vicariance, facilitating speciation. Divergence time was estimated to ∼3.38 Mya, coinciding with the closure of the Panama Gateway that led to reinforcement of the Gulf Stream. This could have advected larvae towards European/North African coasts, in which case American eel would be expected to be the ancestral species. This scenario could, however, not be unequivocally confirmed by analyses of dN/dS, nucleotide diversity and effective population size estimates. Extended bayesian skyline plots showed fluctuations of effective population sizes and declines during glaciations, and thus also lending support to the importance of vicariance during speciation. There was evidence for positive selection at the ATP6 and possibly ND5 genes, indicating a role in speciation. The findings suggest an important role of ocean current changes in speciation of marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Jacobsen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - J M Pujolar
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - M T P Gilbert
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J V Moreno-Mayar
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L Bernatchez
- Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Québec, Québec Canada
| | - T D Als
- 1] Department of Biomedicine-Human Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark [2] National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Section for Marine Living Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - J Lobon-Cervia
- Javier Lobon-Cervia, National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC), C/ José Gutierrez Abascal, Madrid, Spain
| | - M M Hansen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Abstract
Whether as the ancient Egyptian crocodile-god Sobek, a terrifying predator of African waterways, or simply as a premium handbag leather, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) has long held the fascination of mankind. Despite 200 years of study, however, uncertainty remains as to its taxonomy. While resolving such issues are key to understanding the origins and biogeography of the so-called true crocodiles of genus Crocodylus, given widespread ongoing range contraction, such issues are paramount for design of future conservation strategies. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Hekkala et al. (2011) apply analysis of modern, historic and ancient DNA (aDNA) to the questions, with far-reaching implications. First they demonstrate that, as currently described, the Nile crocodile is paraphyletic, with individuals from the east and western clades separated by a number of New World crocodile species. The consequences of this finding are as important for conservation efforts as for their impact on crocodile taxonomy. Furthermore, they strike at the heart of the long-standing debate over whether aDNA analysis of ancient Egyptian mummies is scientifically sound.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T P Gilbert
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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9
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Skoglund P, Malmstrom H, Raghavan M, Stora J, Hall P, Willerslev E, Gilbert MTP, Gotherstrom A, Jakobsson M. Origins and Genetic Legacy of Neolithic Farmers and Hunter-Gatherers in Europe. Science 2012; 336:466-9. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1216304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 405] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Yoccoz NG, Bråthen KA, Gielly L, Haile J, Edwards ME, Goslar T, Von Stedingk H, Brysting AK, Coissac E, Pompanon F, Sønstebø JH, Miquel C, Valentini A, De Bello F, Chave J, Thuiller W, Wincker P, Cruaud C, Gavory F, Rasmussen M, Gilbert MTP, Orlando L, Brochmann C, Willerslev E, Taberlet P. DNA from soil mirrors plant taxonomic and growth form diversity. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:3647-55. [PMID: 22507540 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05545.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems across the globe are threatened by climate change and human activities. New rapid survey approaches for monitoring biodiversity would greatly advance assessment and understanding of these threats. Taking advantage of next-generation DNA sequencing, we tested an approach we call metabarcoding: high-throughput and simultaneous taxa identification based on a very short (usually <100 base pairs) but informative DNA fragment. Short DNA fragments allow the use of degraded DNA from environmental samples. All analyses included amplification using plant-specific versatile primers, sequencing and estimation of taxonomic diversity. We tested in three steps whether degraded DNA from dead material in soil has the potential of efficiently assessing biodiversity in different biomes. First, soil DNA from eight boreal plant communities located in two different vegetation types (meadow and heath) was amplified. Plant diversity detected from boreal soil was highly consistent with plant taxonomic and growth form diversity estimated from conventional above-ground surveys. Second, we assessed DNA persistence using samples from formerly cultivated soils in temperate environments. We found that the number of crop DNA sequences retrieved strongly varied with years since last cultivation, and crop sequences were absent from nearby, uncultivated plots. Third, we assessed the universal applicability of DNA metabarcoding using soil samples from tropical environments: a large proportion of species and families from the study site were efficiently recovered. The results open unprecedented opportunities for large-scale DNA-based biodiversity studies across a range of taxonomic groups using standardized metabarcoding approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- N G Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
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Jones EP, Skirnisson K, McGovern TH, Gilbert MTP, Willerslev E, Searle JB. Fellow travellers: a concordance of colonization patterns between mice and men in the North Atlantic region. BMC Evol Biol 2012; 12:35. [PMID: 22429664 PMCID: PMC3315747 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background House mice (Mus musculus) are commensals of humans and therefore their phylogeography can reflect human colonization and settlement patterns. Previous studies have linked the distribution of house mouse mitochondrial (mt) DNA clades to areas formerly occupied by the Norwegian Vikings in Norway and the British Isles. Norwegian Viking activity also extended further westwards in the North Atlantic with the settlement of Iceland, short-lived colonies in Greenland and a fleeting colony in Newfoundland in 1000 AD. Here we investigate whether house mouse mtDNA sequences reflect human history in these other regions as well. Results House mice samples from Iceland, whether from archaeological Viking Age material or from modern-day specimens, had an identical mtDNA haplotype to the clade previously linked with Norwegian Vikings. From mtDNA and microsatellite data, the modern-day Icelandic mice also share the low genetic diversity shown by their human hosts on Iceland. Viking Age mice from Greenland had an mtDNA haplotype deriving from the Icelandic haplotype, but the modern-day Greenlandic mice belong to an entirely different mtDNA clade. We found no genetic association between modern Newfoundland mice and the Icelandic/ancient Greenlandic mice (no ancient Newfoundland mice were available). The modern day Icelandic and Newfoundland mice belong to the subspecies M. m. domesticus, the Greenlandic mice to M. m. musculus. Conclusions In the North Atlantic region, human settlement history over a thousand years is reflected remarkably by the mtDNA phylogeny of house mice. In Iceland, the mtDNA data show the arrival and continuity of the house mouse population to the present day, while in Greenland the data suggest the arrival, subsequent extinction and recolonization of house mice - in both places mirroring the history of the European human host populations. If house mice arrived in Newfoundland with the Viking settlers at all, then, like the humans, their presence was also fleeting and left no genetic trace. The continuity of mtDNA haplotype in Iceland over 1000 years illustrates that mtDNA can retain the signature of the ancestral house mouse founders. We also show that, in terms of genetic variability, house mouse populations may also track their host human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Jones
- Department of Biology, University of York, PO Box 373, York YO10 5YW, UK.
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Parducci L, Jorgensen T, Tollefsrud MM, Elverland E, Alm T, Fontana SL, Bennett KD, Haile J, Matetovici I, Suyama Y, Edwards ME, Andersen K, Rasmussen M, Boessenkool S, Coissac E, Brochmann C, Taberlet P, Houmark-Nielsen M, Larsen NK, Orlando L, Gilbert MTP, Kjaer KH, Alsos IG, Willerslev E. Glacial Survival of Boreal Trees in Northern Scandinavia. Science 2012; 335:1083-6. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1216043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Charlier P, Huynh-Charlier I, Poupon J, Keyser C, Lancelot E, Favier D, Vignal JN, Sorel P, Chaillot PF, Boano R, Grilletto R, Delacourte S, Duriez JM, Loublier Y, Campos P, Willerslev E, Gilbert MTP, Eisenberg L, Ludes B, de la Grandmaison GL. Multidisciplinary medical identification of a French king's head (Henri IV). BMJ 2010; 341:c6805. [PMID: 21156748 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c6805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Charlier
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital R Poincaré (AP-HP, UVSQ), 92380 Garches, France.
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Rasmussen M, Cummings LS, Gilbert MTP, Bryant V, Smith C, Jenkins DL, Willerslev E. Response to Comment by Goldberg et al. on "DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America". Science 2009. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1167672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Gilbert MTP, Kivisild T, Gronnow B, Andersen PK, Metspalu E, Reidla M, Tamm E, Axelsson E, Gotherstrom A, Campos PF, Rasmussen M, Metspalu M, Higham TFG, Schwenninger JL, Nathan R, De Hoog CJ, Koch A, Moller LN, Andreasen C, Meldgaard M, Villems R, Bendixen C, Willerslev E. Paleo-Eskimo mtDNA Genome Reveals Matrilineal Discontinuity in Greenland. Science 2008; 320:1787-9. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1159750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Gilbert MTP, Jenkins DL, Go therstrom A, Naveran N, Sanchez JJ, Hofreiter M, Thomsen PF, Binladen J, Higham TFG, Yohe RM, Parr R, Cummings LS, Willerslev E. DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America. Science 2008; 320:786-9. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1154116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Gilbert MTP, Janaway RC, Tobin DJ, Cooper A, Wilson AS. Histological correlates of post mortem mitochondrial DNA damage in degraded hair. Forensic Sci Int 2006; 156:201-7. [PMID: 15922527 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2004] [Revised: 02/16/2005] [Accepted: 02/17/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We have assessed the histological preservation of naturally degraded human hair shafts, and then assayed each for levels of amplifiable mitochondrial DNA and damage-associated DNA miscoding lesions. The results indicate that as sample histology is altered (i.e. as hairs degrade) levels of amplifiable mitochondrial DNA decrease, but no correlation is seen between histology and absolute levels of mitochondrial DNA miscoding lesions. Nevertheless, amplifiable mitochondrial DNA could be recovered across the complete range of the histological preservation spectrum. However, when template copy number is taken into consideration, a correlation of miscoding lesions with histology is again apparent. These relationships indicate that a potential route for the generation of misleading mitochondrial sequence data exists in samples of poor histology. Therefore, we argue that in the absence of molecular cloning, the histological screening of hair may be necessary in order to confirm the reliability of mitochondrial DNA sequences amplified from hair, and thus represents a useful tool in forensic mitochondrial DNA analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T P Gilbert
- Henry Wellcome Ancient Biomolecules Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
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Töpf AL, Gilbert MTP, Dumbacher JP, Hoelzel AR. Tracing the phylogeography of human populations in Britain based on 4th-11th century mtDNA genotypes. Mol Biol Evol 2005; 23:152-61. [PMID: 16151183 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msj013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Some of the transitional periods of Britain during the first millennium A.D. are traditionally associated with the movement of people from continental Europe, composed largely of invading armies (e.g., the Roman, Saxon, and Viking invasions). However, the extent to which these were migrations (as opposed to cultural exchange) remains controversial. We investigated the history of migration by women by amplifying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from ancient Britons who lived between approximately A.D. 300-1,000 and compared these with 3,549 modern mtDNA database genotypes from England, Europe, and the Middle East. The objective was to assess the dynamics of the historical population composition by comparing genotypes in a temporal context. Towards this objective we test and calibrate the use of rho statistics to identify relationships between founder and source populations. We find evidence for shared ancestry between the earliest sites (predating Viking invasions) with modern populations across the north of Europe from Norway to Estonia, possibly reflecting common ancestors dating back to the last glacial epoch. This is in contrast with a late Saxon site in Norwich, where the genetic signature is consistent with more recent immigrations from the south, possibly as part of the Saxon invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Töpf
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
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Lalueza-Fox C, Sampietro ML, Gilbert MTP, Castri L, Facchini F, Pettener D, Bertranpetit J. Unravelling migrations in the steppe: mitochondrial DNA sequences from ancient central Asians. Proc Biol Sci 2004; 271:941-7. [PMID: 15255049 PMCID: PMC1691686 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study helps to clarify the debate on the Western and Eastern genetic influences in Central Asia. Thirty-six skeletal remains from Kazakhstan (Central Asia), excavated from different sites dating between the fifteenth century BC to the fifth century AD, have been analysed for the hypervariable control region (HVR-I) and haplogroup diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the mitochondrial DNA genome. Standard authentication criteria for ancient DNA studies, including multiple extractions, cloning of PCR products and independent replication, have been followed. The distribution of east and west Eurasian lineages through time in the region is concordant with the available archaeological information: prior to the thirteenth-seventh century BC, all Kazakh samples belong to European lineages; while later an arrival of east Eurasian sequences that coexisted with the previous west Eurasian genetic substratum can be detected. The presence of an ancient genetic substratum of European origin in West Asia may be related to the discovery of ancient mummies with European features in Xinjiang and to the existence of an extinct Indo-European language, Tocharian. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the ancient DNA in unravelling complex patterns of past human migrations so as to help decipher the origin of present-day admixed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lalueza-Fox
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departimenti Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Lalueza-Fox C, Gilbert MTP, Martínez-Fuentes AJ, Calafell F, Bertranpetit J. Mitochondrial DNA from pre-Columbian Ciboneys from Cuba and the prehistoric colonization of the Caribbean. Am J Phys Anthropol 2003; 121:97-108. [PMID: 12740952 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.10236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
To assess the genetic affinities of extinct Ciboneys (also called Guanajuatabeys) from Cuba, 47 pre-Columbian skeletal samples belonging to this group were analyzed using ancient DNA techniques. At the time of European contact, the center and east of Cuba were occupied by agriculturalist Taino groups, while the west was mainly inhabited by Ciboneys, hunter-gatherers who have traditionally been considered a relic population descending from the initial colonization of the Caribbean. The mtDNA hypervariable region I (HVR-I) and haplogroup-specific markers were amplified and sequenced in 15 specimens using overlapping fragments; amplification from second extractions from the same sample, independent replication in different laboratories, and cloning of some PCR products support the authenticity of the sequences. Three of the five major mtDNA Amerindian lineages (A, C, and D) are present in the sample analyzed, in frequencies of 0.07, 0.60, and 0.33, respectively. Different phylogenetic analyses seem to suggest that the Caribbean most likely was populated from South America, although the data are still inconclusive, and Central American influences cannot be discarded. Our hypothesis is that the colonization of the Caribbean mainly took place in successive migration movements that emanated from the same area in South America, around the Lower Orinoco Valley: the first wave consisted of hunter-gatherer groups (ancestors of the Ciboneys), a subsequent wave of agriculturalists (ancestors of the Tainos), and a latter one of nomadic Carib warriors. However, further genetic studies are needed to confirm this scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lalueza-Fox
- Secció d' Antropologia, Departament of Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
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