Genetic research unveils tales of historical populations, spanning from the Iron Age to the Chernobyl disaster, asserts genomics expert.
"Genetic Detective" Ingrida Domarkienė digs through the pieces of history with ancient DNA
Venture into the captivating world of genetic detective work with Ingrida Domarkienė, the mastermind behind Lithuania's first ancient DNA lab. Nestled within the Medical Science Centre of Vilnius University, this cutting-edge lab is paving the way in unearthing the mysteries of our past.
From a solid foundation in molecular biology and medical genetics, Domarkienė delves deep into the heart of ancient DNA to unravel tales as old as time itself. Working hand-in-hand with international collaborators, they are tackling everything from the practices of medieval societies in Poland to the effects of the 1986 catastrophe at Chernobyl.
Meddling with Melodrama, Ingrida Domarkienė and the Daunting Task of ancient DNA Research
The challenge is daunting, yet invigorating in equal measure: the unknown, unachieved, and uncertain are all welcome in Domarkienė's realm of ancient DNA research.
"The most critical challenge is," reveals Domarkienė, "the need to embrace uncertainty and failure. You never know if the quality and quantity of DNA you'll have to work with will be sufficient."
Life's a Confetti, Cleaned Up (or What's Left of It)
Unlike DNA from living organisms, the DNA of ancient remains faces deterioration starting from the moment of death. Fragments break apart, and environmental DNA blends in, creating a mix akin to a party confetti.
Sifting through those fragments can be a daunting task, but it's a challenge Domarkienė and her team don't shy away from.
Revealing the Aftermath: The Chernobyl Cleanup Workers' Legacy
One of Domarkienė's projects focuses on the cleanup workers of Chernobyl, more commonly known as the liquidators. Studying their DNA, the researchers identified protective genes that might have aided these heroes in combating the aftermath of the tragic nuclear disaster.
The quest for knowledge doesn't end there, though. With the help of colleagues from the Department of Human and Medical Genetics, they discovered potential protective variations in both the mitochondrial DNA and the nuclear DNA that could shield mitochondrial function.
The Echoes of History in Modern Medicine: A Missing Link
Studying our genetic history can offer invaluable insights that help us address medical challenges today. One benchmarking example is the work of Svante Pääbo, who developed the field of paleogenomics and provided explanations of the differences between human and Neanderthal DNA sequences. As a result, scientists uncovered a variant in the progesterone receptor associated with preterm birth but also protective against miscarriage—insights that have real-life implications for women's health.
Infection, Adaptation, and the Future of ancient DNA research
Delving into our genetic history might even help us understand the evolution of pathogens and how they spread. With modern pandemics, such as the recent COVID-19 experience, and a changing climate, Domarkienė believes that ancient DNA research will play an increasingly vital role in helping us sift through the present and predict the future.
As she gazes into the horizon of ancient DNA research, Domarkienė shares her vision of a future where technology advances will allow scientists to explore even deeper into the sequences, span wider datasets, and delve into copy number variations and epigenomic markers.
"Perhaps then," Domarkienė muses, "we will have the complete picture."
Related:
- A blend of three ancient populations shaped Modern Japanese, with one still unidentified
- Aftermath of Chernobyl's disaster may not have passed onto survivors' children
- A previously unknown human lineage lived in the 'Green Sahara' 7,000 years ago
- Ethnic cleansing and population dynamics left their mark in 17th-century Europe
- Expanding genomic databases and interdisciplinary approaches pave the way for continued discoveries in ancient DNA research.
- Delving into the daunting task of ancient DNA research, Ingrida Domarkienė and her team investigate various scientific fields such as space and astronomy, technology, education, and self-development to find potential links to genetic adaptations and evolution, as well as to uncover historical mysteries.
- With a focus on medical conditions and genetics, the study of ancient DNA can offer new insights that may help us address modern health challenges, such as the discovery of a variant in the progesterone receptor associated with preterm birth but also protective against miscarriage, which have real-life implications for women's health.
