University of Calgary

Ancient DNA Facilities

Submitted by nethier on Tue, 11/15/2011 - 16:16.

Lab Personnel

Research Interests

  • Environmental Archaeology
  • Animal Domestication
  • Paleoethnobotany
  • Mesoamerica

Ancient DNA Lab Facilities

The Ancient DNA Facility at the University of Calgary commenced operations in April 2011.  The facility consists of two laboratories: the Ancient DNA Laboratory (located in the Archaeology Department, Earth Science Building) and the Post-PCR Laboratory (located in the Biological Sciences Building).

The Ancient DNA facility includes a common area surrounded by three separate workspaces for sample preparation, DNA extraction and PCR set-up, respectively.  The lab follows comprehensive contamination controls to reduce the likelihood of introducing modern DNA into the ancient DNA workspace, including a hepa-filtered ventilation system, positive airflow, and UV lights for workspace decontamination.  Each room is equipped with materials, reagents and apparatus dedicated to the analysis of ancient faunal, floral and human remains.  Researchers wear coverall lab suits, masks and gloves when entering and working in the ancient DNA facility.

Following DNA extraction and PCR-set-up, all downstream operations take place in the Post-PCR workspace (Located in BioSci 398, Dr. C.C. Chinnappa's lab).  This lab is equipped with facilities and instrument DNA amplification and visualization.  The Ancient DNA Lab and the Post-PCR workspaces have been deliberately located in two separate buildings, and lab materials, reagents and equipment are dedicated to either the Ancient DNA or Post-PCR lab.  Lab personnel are restricted to a 'one-way' flow of work - once they enter the Post-PCR lab, they cannot return to the Ancient DNA workspace until they have showered and changed into clean clothing.  These strict protocols are designed to prevent any carry-over of PCR products into the Ancient DNA laboratory, where they may potentially contaminate the ancient remains, leading to false positive results.

Current Projects

Over the past two decades, ancient DNA analysis has become an integral new tool in archaeological research.  This innovative suite of techniques recovers genetic material from ancient human, plant and animal remains, providing new insights into outstanding archaeological debates, and most importantly, allowing archaeologists to pose altogether new questions about our human past.  The Ancient DNA laboratory is working on a number of archaeological projects, including an assessment of pre-Columbian elk populations in Alberta and an investigation of North American turkey domestication.


Assessing pre-historic distribution, abundance and genetic diversity of elk (Cervus elaphus) in Alberta through archaeological and ancient DNA analysis

North American Elk (Cervus elaphus) are an important component of Alberta's natural ecosystems.  Despite severe population declines in the 19th century, sizable populations of elk have been restored within Provincial and National parks.  There has been ongoing controversy, however, regarding the ideal populations sizes and densities required to maintain ecological integrity.  Designing effective ecosystems management policies can be challenging without accurate historic baseline data.  Archaeological data and ancient DNA analysis can provide the necessary long-term perspective required for ecosystems management.  The objectives of this project are to apply archaeological and ancient DNA data to assess the former distribution, abundance and genetic diversity of elk prior to the population declines of the 19th century and to document changes in elk genetic diversity through time and space.  First, the project will compile a database recording archaeological evidence for the distribution and abundance of elk throughout the province.  Ancient DNA analysis will be applied to approximately 50 previously excavated archaeological elk remains in order to: 1) determine the past genetic diversity and geographic patterning of elk populations; 2) estimate former elk population sizes; and 3) assess the extent of genetic diversity loss associated with population declines in the historic period.  This project has been made possible through the generous support of the Alberta Conservation Association (Kooyman, PI; Speller, Co-applicant).


Exploring Turkey Domestication in North America: An Integrated Approach

Animal domestication revolutionized the lives of prehistoric peoples, their relationship with their environment, and their technological and social development. To more fully understand how this dynamic and complex process of domestication unfolded in pre-contact Native North American cultures, it would be remiss to overlook one of the continent's few animal domesticates: the turkey.  While the turkey served as an important dietary and spiritual resource for the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica and the American Southwest, previous archaeological investigations into turkey domestication have been inconclusive.  Camilla Speller's post-doctoral research will apply this new archaeological technique, ancient DNA analysis, to explore the origins and process of wild turkey domestication in North america, specifically Mesoamerica.  This work builds on her PhD research which successfully applied this DNA techinque to study the process of turkey domestication in the American Southwest (Speller et al. 2010).  This project integrates the new ancient DNA data from Mesoamerica with existing data from the American Southwest to document how animal domestication progressed on a continental scale.  This project is funded through a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship.