In our lab we use ancient DNA to investigate evolutionary and historical processes in animal and human populations. Ancient DNA is DNA extracted from the remains of organisms that lived hundreds to thousands of years ago and are found during paleontological or archaeological excavations. Unlike studying genomes of modern organisms, this approach allows for direct observation of changes in genetic diversity over time and hence more precise and accurate inferences about the evolutionary processes.  

At present, our team consists of three senior researchers, six students, and a laboratory manager. We are financed mostly by the Polish National Science Centre grants. We have a fully equipped clean laboratory suitable to work with samples susceptible to contamination and mastered DNA extraction and library preparation protocols which enable us to sequence genomes from samples older than 100 thousand years, for example from famous Denisova cave.   

Our Laboratory focuses on three major themes. First is the reconstruction of the evolutionary histories of various small mammals, with special reference to their reactions to past climate change. Understanding their past reactions may improve our predictions of species responses to the current climate change. Small mammals are particularly suitable for this kind of studies, they have relatively narrow ecological niches, their remains are abundant at paleontological sites and their populations were not affected by Paleolithic humans. We combine demographic modeling based on heterochronous genomic data with paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental proxies to identify key factors affecting populations.  

The second theme is past human-animal interactions, such as domestication. Currently, we focus on various aspects of the spread of domestic cats. We have documented the oldest mitochondrial DNA of domestic cats in Central Europe dated to the Neolithic. Now Dr Danijela Popović connects genome-wide data, radiocarbon dating, and stable isotope analyses of ancient cats to test whether this was an effect of direct human-mediated migration, natural expansion, or hybridization with European wildcats.  

Third is the reconstruction of the genomic history of human populations that lived in the territory of present-day Poland from the Bronze Age onwards. We use genome-wide data from archaeological human remains to inform past population movements and interactions in this region, which since prehistory has been a crossroad of major trade, migratory and warfare routes.  

We have a wide international research collaboration network and are always happy to extend it and engage in new interesting scientific projects.