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Beringia as an Ice Age genetic museum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Beth Shapiro  and
Alan Cooper
Beth Shapiro
Affiliation:
Henry Wellcome Ancient Biomolecules Centre, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK
Alan Cooper*
Affiliation:
Henry Wellcome Ancient Biomolecules Centre, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK
*
*Corresponding author. Fax: +44-1865-271249. E-mail address:alan.cooper@zoo.ox.ac.uk (A. Cooper).
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Abstract

Thousands of Late Pleistocene remains are found in sites throughout Beringia. These specimens comprise an Ice Age genetic museum, and the DNA contained within them provide a means to observe evolutionary processes within populations over geologically significant time scales. Phylogenetic analyses can identify the taxonomic positions of extinct species and provide estimates of speciation dates. Geographic and temporal divisions apparent in the genetic data can be related to ecological change, human impacts, and possible landscape mosaics in Beringia. The application of ancient DNA techniques to traditional paleontological studies provides a new perspective to long-standing questions regarding the paleoenvironment and diversity of Late Pleistocene Beringia.

Keywords

Ancient DNABeringiaPermafrostPleistocenePhylogenetics
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 60 , Issue 1 , July 2003 , pp. 94 - 100
Copyright
University of Washington

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