Tto – For the first time, scientists have completely rebuilt the genetic map of a girl who lived in the stone age from birch resin (similar to the current gum) instead of bones.
The genetic map of a 5,700 -year -old girl was rebuilt thanks to a gum – Photo 1.
Reconstructing the image of Lola, a girl who lived about 5,700 years ago, from genomic information determined through an object similar to the gum of ancient peoples – Photo: CNN
According to AFP, Danish scientists managed to extract a complete DNA sample from a person from a piece of birch resin (in Spanish, “Abylting tar” or “Abyulous Brea”, used in a product similar to the current gum) from 5,700 years ago.
This unique study revealed that the specimen of the stone age provided sufficient information to determine the sex of the genome, its diet and even the microbes present in its mouth. In addition, DNA sample information also suggested that the girl of antiquity probably had blue eyes, black hair and dark skin.
Genetically, the girl resembled the groups of hunter-gatherers of continental Europe more than those who lived in Scandinavia at that time.
“This is the first time that the complete genome is extracted from an old person from something other than human bones,” said Hannes Schröder, from the University of Copenhagen.
Hannes Schröder is co -author of the study, published on December 17 in the journal Nature Communications.
Genetic map of a 5,700 -year -old girl rebuilt thanks to gum residues – Photo 2.
A piece of birch break, similar to a gum residue, dates from about 5,700 years ago and was found in the Syltholm region, south of Denmark. – Photo: AFP
According to Mr. Tehis Jensen, one of the study authors, the team of experts discovered the piece of birch break during the excavation of an archaeological site in Syltholm, south of Denmark.
“Syltholm is a very special place,” said Mr. Tehis Jensen. “Almost everything is covered with mud, which means that the conservation of organic artifacts is completely strange.”
The researchers also found traces of plants and animals of the time, such as hazelnuts and ducks. This confirms once again what archaeologists know about the peoples that lived in that period.
According to the CNN, Abyl’s Brea is a substance that the Peoples of the Paleolithic used as a glue about 760,000 years ago. This type of break is extracted from heated birch bark and, at some point, they realized that they could chew it, as confirmed by the tooth marks that remain in it.
However, something that the research team cannot assure is why chewed the birch’s break the girl who is the object of the genome: did he want to turn it into a kind of glue to clean his teeth, to satisfy his hunger or simply to chew it … for fun?
