This month in The Journal

Through paleogenomics, the study of ancient DNA (aDNA), scientists have been able to construct chronologies of human evolution, detailing interactions between Homo sapiens, other species, and past environments. Paleogenomics differs from modern genomics in that aDNA is typically extracted from skeletal remains and other finite organic sources, often destroying irreplaceable samples. Once destroyed, recovery of additional endogenous aDNA is not possible, and re-analysis is limited to the reprocessing of raw data sequence.