Latest news with #Skoglund
Scientific American
a day ago
- Science
- Scientific American
4,800-Year-Old Teeth Yield First Human Genome from Ancient Egypt
Teeth from an elderly man who lived around the time that the earliest pyramids were built have yielded the first full human genome sequence from ancient Egypt. The remains are 4,800 to 4,500 years old, overlapping with a period in Egyptian history known as the Old Kingdom or the Age of Pyramids. They harbour signs of ancestry similar to that of other ancient North Africans, as well as of people from the Middle East, researchers report today in Nature. 'It's incredibly exciting and important,' says David Reich, a population geneticist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, who was not involved in the study. 'We always hoped we would get our first ancient DNA from mummies.' On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Numerous labs have tried to extract DNA from ancient Egyptian remains. In 1985, evolutionary geneticist Svante Pääbo reported the first ancient DNA sequences from any human: several thousand DNA letters from a 2,400-year-old Egyptian mummy of a child. But Pääbo, who won a Nobel prize in 2022 for other work, later realized that the sequences were contaminated with modern DNA — possibly his own. A 2017 study generated limited genome data from three Egyptian mummies that lived between 3,600 and 2,000 years ago. The hot North African climate speeds up the breakdown of DNA, and the mummification process might also accelerate it, said Pontus Skoglund, a palaeogeneticist at the Francis Crick Institute in London who co-led the Nature study, at a press briefing. 'Mummified individuals are probably not a great way to preserve DNA.' The remains that Skoglund's team sequenced pre-date widespread mummification: the person was interred instead in a ceramic pot, a sign of high, but not elite, status. The remains were found at an archaeological site called Nuwayrat, 265 kilometres south of Cairo along the Nile river. The teeth and bones were discovered in 1902, when Egypt was under British colonial rule. They were donated to institutions in Liverpool, UK, where they have been ever since, even surviving German bombing during the Second World War. Low expectations Skoglund says his expectations were low when his team extracted DNA from several teeth from the Nuwayrat individual. But two samples contained enough authentic ancient DNA to generate a full genome sequence. Y-chromosome sequences indicated that the remains belonged to a male. The majority of his DNA resembled that of early farmers from the Neolithic period of North Africa around 6,000 years ago. The rest most closely matched people in Mesopotamia, a historical Middle Eastern region that was home to the ancient Sumerian civilization, and was where some of the first writing systems emerged. It's not clear whether this implies a genetic direct link between members of Mesopotamian cultures and people in ancient Egypt — also hinted at by similarities in some cultural artefacts — or whether the man's Mesopotamian ancestry arrived through other unsampled populations, the researchers say. The rest of the ancient Egyptian man's bones revealed more details about his life. Evidence of arthritis and osteoporosis suggest he died at an advanced age for the time, possibly in his sixties. Other signs of wear indicate a life of physical toil, sitting hunched over on hard surfaces. On the basis of this and imagery from other tombs from this period, he might have been a potter, said co-author Joel Irish, a bioarchaeologist at Liverpool John Moores University, at the press briefing. 'The publication of a whole-genome data set of an ancient Egyptian constitutes a significant achievement in the field of molecular Egyptology,' says Yehia Gad, a geneticist at Egypt's National Research Centre in Cairo, who praises the researchers for presenting the provenance of the remains clearly. But he points out that the genome is from one individual and might not fully represent ancient Egypt's gene pool, which was probably a melting pot of different ancestries. For this reason, researchers are eager for more ancient Egyptian genome data — perhaps even from a mummy. Advances in ancient-genomics technology and local capacity — Gad supervises an ancient DNA lab at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo — means it hopefully won't take another 40 years.
India Today
a day ago
- Science
- India Today
DNA of man who lived during pyramid construction reveal ancient secret
Recent genetic analysis of an ancient Egyptian man, who lived at the time the first pyramids were constructed, has uncovered significant ties with Mesopotamia, offering fresh insights into cultural interconnections during the Old Kingdom man's genome, remarkably preserved due to his burial conditions, indicates that a fifth of his genetic ancestry can be traced back to Mesopotamia, suggesting substantial historical interactions between these research involved the extraction and sequencing of DNA from the roots of two teeth found in a ceramic vessel within a rock-cut tomb. This achievement marks the first complete genome sequencing of an individual from ancient Egypt, a significant feat given the adverse climate conditions that usually hinder DNA preservation in the region. "Ancient DNA recovery from Egyptian remains has been exceptionally challenging due to Egypt's hot climate that accelerates DNA degradation," noted Pontus Skoglund of the Francis Crick Institute. An ancient Egyptian ceramic pot excavated in 1902 at a site of rock-cut tombs at Nuwayrat. (Photo: Reuters) The man lived approximately 4,500-4,800 years ago, at the dawn of the Old Kingdom era, known for its monumental pyramid in 1902 near Beni Hassan, about 170 miles south of Cairo, the remains provide a rare genetic link to the ancient Near East's Fertile Crescent, which encompassed Mesopotamia. "This suggests substantial genetic connections between ancient Egypt and the eastern Fertile Crescent," explained population geneticist Adeline Morez discovery builds upon existing archaeological evidence of trade and cultural exchanges between Egypt and Mesopotamia, including shared artistic motifs and imported goods like lapis the pottery wheel from Mesopotamia first appeared in Egypt during the man's lifetime, coinciding with the construction of iconic pyramids such as Djoser's Step Pyramid and Khufu's Great man's skeletal remains, 90% of which were preserved, revealed indications of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, as well as a large unhealed abscess. His burial in a ceramic pot vessel within a rock-cut tomb likely contributed to the exceptional DNA preservation, as Skoglund highlighted. The researchers extracted DNA from the roots of two teeth. (Photo: Reuters) Details of the man's life suggest he may have been a potter, inferred from muscle markings on his indicators are consistent with movements and positions of a potter, as indicated in ancient Egyptian imagery," said bioarcheologist Joel Irish. Despite a physically demanding life, his high-status burial suggests he was a potter of significant study, published in the journal Nature, shows the potential for further discoveries in ancient DNA, despite ongoing challenges."Yeah, it was a long shot," Skoglund admitted, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of such genetic investigations. The findings enrich our understanding of early civilisations and their interconnectedness, offering a broader perspective on the shared histories of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Steelers rookie QB Will Howard's sunset kiss with girlfriend Skyler Skoglund melts fans' hearts
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard is embracing the NFL offseason with a romantic summer escape alongside girlfriend Skyler Skoglund. The couple recently shared a serene sunset moment on Lake Minnesota, capturing hearts with a picturesque kiss against the golden glow. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The tranquil scene featured the two standing close on a wooden dock, surrounded by calm waters, a pontoon boat, and soft clouds overhead. The moment, posted to Skyler's Instagram story, quickly gained traction among fans. Golden hour kiss: Steelers rookie shares sunset romance Howard appeared shirtless in dark navy swim trunks, while Skoglund wore a black bikini, her long blonde hair cascading naturally. Behind them, tall green trees framed the warm, golden light of dusk—giving the image an almost cinematic quality. The couple's lakeside snap stood out as a peaceful contrast to the high-octane life of an NFL player. It also highlighted a more personal, grounded side of the Steelers' rookie quarterback. Will Howard's sunset kiss with Skyler Skoglund is pure summer goals (Image via Instagram) Skoglund, a Minnesota native, graduated from Miami University in Oxford with a degree in Psychology. She was part of the Alpha Phi sorority and a member of the Pinky Swear Pack Club during her time there. A former track and field athlete at Minnetonka Senior High School, she blends athleticism with elegance in her public appearances. Her story adds a layer of depth to the couple's growing spotlight. Country nights & concert dates: Inside their all-American summer Earlier in June, Skoglund posted another highlight of their summer—a night out at a George Strait concert. Sharing multiple snaps from the evening, she wrote, 'nothing screams summer more than country music!!!' The photos showed the couple smiling and standing close, soaking in the music and the moment. It was yet another look at their easy chemistry and shared love for classic American summer vibes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Skoglund wore a black long-sleeve top with flared sleeves, a matching skirt, and turquoise cowboy boots that added a bright pop. Her white cowboy hat with decorative cutouts and a round, dark green pendant necklace gave the outfit a playful, chic edge. Meanwhile, Howard kept it simple and clean with a black button-down over a t-shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers, and a backwards cap. Their coordinated style mirrored their connection—effortless and magnetic. Also read: As Howard gears up for his first season in Pittsburgh, these summer snapshots show a softer, more relatable side of the rising NFL star. From dockside kisses at sunset to nights under the stars, Will Howard and Skyler Skoglund are writing their own offseason love story—one frame at a time.
