Mikkel Winther Pedersen

Gammelt DNA dybt nede i Donaus mudder afslører en ellers skjult fortid Hvordan så naturen ud, og hvad levede de mennesker, der boede langs floden, af? Det kan flere tusinde år gammelt DNA afsløre.

It is fascinating how even small traces of DNA preserved in mud can act as an archive of human–environment interactions across millennia.

The article is in Danish, apologies for that 🙂
But there are some great ancient DNA details and pictures in there.

videnskab.dk/naturvidensk...

How can river mud tell stories about people who lived 6,000 years ago?

I co-wrote a popular science article about @giuliazamp93.bsky.social’s PhD research, where ancient environmental DNA from Danube sediments reveals past human activity and environmental change.

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Ancient DNA reconstruction of late holocene ecosystems within the Carpathian basin from paleo-meanders and archaeological deposits - Scientific Reports The diverse ecology in the Carpathian Basin supported a variety of subsistence strategies throughout the Holocene, ranging from animal husbandry to the management of woodlands, grasslands, and wetland...

Our new study is out!
We analysed DNA preserved in buried river sediments and Neolithic sites (Serbia), uncovering past landscapes and traces of sturgeon populations. Read more about our findings and the challenges in such complex and dynamic contexts: doi.org/10.1038/s415... @mikkelwp.bsky.social

On my way to Vienna for #heasseminar tomorrow! Soundtrack: youtu.be/3jL4S4X97sQ?...

Competitive metagenomic read recruitment explained A tutorial on the nuts and bolts of competitive read recruitment

I wrote a new tutorial on competitive metagenomic read recruitment (and profiling of the results with #anvio), for those of us nerds who would like to get their hands dirty with data:

anvio.org/tutorials/co...

The Resin That Remembered: How Ancient Birch Tar Is Rewriting the Story of Neolithic Life New biomolecular evidence from prehistoric chewing gum reveals the intimate daily habits, diets, and toolmaking ingenuity of Europe’s first farmers.

Ancient DNA from Neolithic chewing gum reveals how Europe’s first farmers lived, worked, and ate. Birch tar preserves the intimacy of their daily lives in astonishing molecular detail. #Archaeology #Neolithic #AncientDNA #Anthropology www.anthropology.net/p/the-resin-...

My amazing co-guest editors @ruththurstan.bsky.social @kbohmann.bsky.social @mikkelwp.bsky.social @tangeolsen.bsky.social & non-Bskyers Ol Craig, David Orton, James Scourse and I found only enthusiasm and interest from our networks - the amazing research rolled in!

How have we impacted the seas around us? and for how long? This series of papers use a wide array of multidisciplinary approaches to address these questions. Super proud to be part of this special issue.!!

@elektronista.dk jeg tror du må have tagget den forkerte her!?

🚨The early bird deadline is ending May 7th! 🚨
Spread the word, and make sure to register now to benefit from the reduced rate!

isba11.com/registration

#archaeology #biomoleculararchaeology #ISBA11 #archaeologists

@isbarchaeology.bsky.social @archaeobiomics.bsky.social

Picuris Pueblo oral history and genomics reveal continuity in US Southwest - Nature A collaborative study initiated by the sovereign nation of Picuris Pueblo in the Northern Rio Grande region of New Mexico addresses gaps in traditional knowledge and furthers understanding of their po...

Excited to share our study on and with Picuris Pueblo! It’s a true honor to have worked alongside the community. Combining oral history and genomics, we show a long-standing continuity in the US Southwest and challenge ideas of pre-Columbian population collapse.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

🔬 As of April 29, the @canadianbiogenome.bsky.social has assembled 167 high-quality reference genomes — and counting! 🧬 Explore the live sequencing progress and learn how this national effort is helping decode Canada’s biodiversity: earthbiogenome.ca/status.mhtml

The extended deadline for abstract submission for the next #ICAZ working group meeting on #Archaeozoology, Genetics, Proteomics and Morphometrics (AGPM) is Friday, 16th of May.

You have just over two weeks!

sites.google.com/palaeome.org...

sites.google.com/palaeome.org...

Road to Extinction? Past and Present Population Structure and Genomic Diversity in the Koala Abstract. Koalas are arboreal herbivorous marsupials, endemic to Australia. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number of koalas declined dramatical

De Cashan et al. utilize 37 historic and 25 modern koala genomes to show a clear decline in genome-wide heterozygosity over time, and loss of mitochondrial haplotypes. This loss of genetic diversity may compromise the species' resilience.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...

#evobio #koala #extinction

This study was a great collaboration of a team from both Denmark and Tajikistan - huge thanks to all coauthors, including @zandraselina.bsky.social, @vvillaislas.bsky.social, @jespervolsen.bsky.social, @mikkelwp.bsky.social and @fridowelker.bsky.social 🎉

Palaeogenomic inference of biodiversity dynamics across Quaternary timescales - Nature Reviews Biodiversity This Review explores the utility of palaeogenomics for exploring past biodiversity trends and ecosystem responses to a changing world, including natural climate cycles and increasing human activity.

I am happy to share that our review has now been published in @natrevbiodiv.bsky.social!🎉

@indianadiez.bsky.social @lovedalen.bsky.social @palaeopete.bsky.social Laura Epp @sanneboessenkool.bsky.social @mikkelwp.bsky.social @selinabrace.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Our new paper in @natrevbiodiv.bsky.social reviewing the use of aDNA data in biodiversity research is out 🎉

@amandalindahl.bsky.social LauraEpp @selinabrace.bsky.social @sanneboessenkool.bsky.social @mikkelwp.bsky.social @palaeopete.bsky.social @lovedalen.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Early Humans Thrived in Rainforests (Gift Article) The discovery clashes with the traditional image of humans evolving on the savannas of East Africa.

Meanwhile, 150,000 years ago: hunter-gatherers thrived in rain forests, once considered too harsh for early Homo sapiens to survive. Here's my story [Gift link] nyti.ms/3EThoDL 🧪

Navigating Past Oceans: Comparing Metabarcoding and Metagenomics of Marine Ancient Sediment Environmental DNA The condition of ancient marine ecosystems provides context for contemporary biodiversity changes in human-impacted oceans. Sequencing sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) is an emerging method for gene...

🙌 Thanks to amazing co-authors @kbohmann.bsky.social sky.social, @mikkelwp.bsky.social @seachange-erc.bsky.social, many others not on 💙☁️, & our funders @erc.europa.eu.

Dive into the full study here: doi.org/10.1111/1755...

Lots more detail in the supplements!

Congratulations Shyam!

Very excited to share the first paper from my PhD thesis. It was a pleasure to work with such amazing people. Check out the thread and paper below. Keen to hear your thoughts.

new @science.org bio just dropped www.science.org/content/auth...

Ancient DNA data hold insights into past organisms and ecosystems — handle them with more care DNA recovered from ancient remains is transforming our understanding of organisms and ecosystems from tens, thousands and even millions of years ago – but the growing volume of data must be better pre...

In this comment piece with James Fellows Yates and Christina Warinner (@christinawarinner.bsky.social), we highlight the mounting problems with data archiving and metadata reporting in ancient DNA research. The field cannot afford to keep neglecting this issue.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I think we all should take time this morning to read through this peace, get your coffee!! This is important.

@alexanderholm.bsky.social i would claim that you nailed it today! Really interesting, inspiring and good summary on how/what it takes to influence the societal debate using scientific based arguments.

@palaeopete.bsky.social @ericcapo12.bsky.social #sedaDNA #bioinformatics

The 3rd Ancient Environmental Genomics PhD course (2025) is now open for registration. This has been a true pleasure to teach (and hard work) both times. Come join us and have a week of in-depth hands-on work with ancient metagenomic data and the latest analysis tools. phdcourses.dk/Course/124659

2nd day of Globe institutes PhD retreat. @alexanderholm.bsky.social is giving his take on the importance of Science for society.! #PhDlife #Science #Debate

PhD student and supervisors sitting around tables.

The #Globe_institute PhD retreat kicks off this morning. 2-day workshop/retreat talking and discussing #PhDlife and interaction with the institutes PhD supervisors.

Linking GitHub and Zenodo is new to me, but seems very useful in the current publishing landscape requiring open data and code 🧪