Ancient DNA unlocks new understanding of migrations in the first millennium AD; a new study has been published in Nature
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Twigstats
BrowsingHow does Twigstats work?
The more genetic mutations (differences in our DNA) that we share with another person, the closer we tend to be related. This is because we inherit our DNA through our ancestors, and so we inherit the same mutations that they also carried. Our DNA is therefore a proxy for the genetic ‘family trees’ that connect us all.
Over the past few years, scientists have found ways to directly reconstruct these genetic family trees by looking at how mutations are shared between people, connecting our DNA today with those of ancient people. These genetic family trees reveal how old mutations are and who they are shared by.
Twigstats directly looks at these genetic family trees to summarise who we have inherited our DNA from. This new approach looks at more recent mutations to reveal connections between people who lived closer together in time.
Press release from the Francis Crick Institute.
