News: Australian Centre for Ancient DNA

Climate change: Ancient DNA study provides clues to the disappearance of lions and bears

Posted on Jan 10 2022 by admin

New research suggests a change in climate is the likely cause of the mysterious disappearance of ancient lions and bears from parts of North America for a thousand years or more prior to the last Ice Age.

Science awards celebrate 2021 academic, student and staff success

Three staff members were recognised for exceptional performance in 2021. Kiralee Vincent – the faculty's Senior Academic Support Officer based at Roseworthy campus. Dr Maïlys Stirling, the faculty’s Research Technical Services Manager. Lisa Laws, the Business Manager of the School of Physical Sciences and School of Biological Sciences.

Posted on Dec 22 2021 by admin

The recent Faculty of Sciences’ awards showcase celebrated research, teaching, leadership, professional staff and student success.

How humans catalysed the extinction of the woolly mammoth

Woolly mammoths persisted in Siberia until the mid-Holocene. Credit Mauricio Anton - https://mauricioanton.wordpress.com/

Posted on Nov 11 2021 by admin

New research shows that humans had a significant role in the extinction of woolly mammoths in Eurasia, occurring thousands of years later than previously thought.

Can we extract ancient DNA from dinosaurs?

Tarbosaurus dinosaur by 5350755 from Pixabay

Posted on Oct 12 2021 by admin

Delve into the science behind ancient DNA – what exactly is it, and how easy is it to extract from remains?

Tall Poppy awards for Uni of Adelaide researchers

SA Tall Poppy Award winners from the University of Adelaide. L to R Dr Hannah Wardill, Dr Alice Jones, Dr Catia Malvaso and Dr Dominic McAfee. (Absent: Dr Linda Armbrecht)

Posted on Sep 7 2021 by admin

Five University of Adelaide researchers have won 2021 South Australian Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.

Coronaviruses have been hijacking human genes for 20,000 years

Coronavirus graphic. Image by Gerd Altmann, from Pixabay.

Posted on Jun 26 2021 by admin

Humans have been exposed to coronaviruses for more than 20,000 years, according to new University of Adelaide research.

Adelaide scientists discover new evidence in search for the mysterious Denisovans

Replica of the Sangiran 17 Homo erectus cranium from Java - side view. Photo supplied by the Trustees of the Natural History Museum

Posted on Mar 24 2021 by admin

Scientists make DNA breakthrough in the quest to better understand our mysterious ancient cousins.

Don’t focus on genetic diversity to save our species

Once found throughout the semi-arid range country in South Australia, New South Wales and south-west Queensland, the yellow-footed rock wallaby is now endangered in Queensland and NSW and vulnerable in SA. Image by Philip Barrington from Pixabay.

Posted on Mar 1 2021 by admin

Scientists have challenged the common assumption that genetic diversity of a species is a key indicator of extinction risk.

Science awards celebrate academic, student and staff success

Posted on Jan 28 2021 by admin

The recent Faculty of Sciences’ awards showcase celebrated research, teaching, leadership, professional staff and student success.

Ancient DNA research reveals evolutionary secrets of Game of Thrones dire wolves

Artwork credit: Mauricio Antón/Nature. Caption: Somewhere in Southwestern North America during the late Pleistocene, a pack of dire wolves (Canis dirus) are feeding on their bison kill, while a pair of grey wolves (Canis lupus) approach in the hopes of scavenging. One of the dire wolves rushes in to confront the grey wolves, and their confrontation allows a comparison of the bigger, larger-headed and reddish-brown dire wolf with its smaller, grey relative.

Posted on Jan 14 2021 by admin

University of Adelaide scientists have sequenced the ancient DNA of dire wolf fossils for the first time and uncovered new secrets of the animal made famous by the TV show Game of Thrones.