Iñigo Olalde | Harvard University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Iñigo Olalde

Research paper thumbnail of Population connectivity buffers genetic diversity loss in a seabird

Frontiers in Zoology

Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring o... more Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring of the genetic variability of species through time and predicting the impact of ecosystems' threats on future population dynamics and viability. Meanwhile, the consequences of anthropogenic activities and climate change to island faunas, particularly seabirds, remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined temporal changes in the genetic diversity of a threatened seabird, the Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis). Findings: We analysed the mitochondrial DNA control region of ancient bone samples from the late-Holocene retrieved from the Canary archipelago (NE Atlantic) together with modern DNA sequences representative of the entire breeding range of the species. Our results show high levels of ancient genetic diversity in the Canaries comparable to that of the extant population. The temporal haplotype network further revealed rare but recurrent long-distance dispersal betwe...

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of structural diversity in wolf-like canids reveals post-domestication variants

BMC Genomics, 2014

Background: Although a variety of genetic changes have been implicated in causing phenotypic diff... more Background: Although a variety of genetic changes have been implicated in causing phenotypic differences among dogs, the role of copy number variants (CNVs) and their impact on phenotypic variation is still poorly understood. Further, very limited knowledge exists on structural variation in the gray wolf, the ancestor of the dog, or other closely related wild canids. Documenting CNVs variation in wild canids is essential to identify ancestral states and variation that may have appeared after domestication.

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic analysis of the blood attributed to Louis XVI (1754–1793), king of France

Scientific Reports, 2014

A pyrographically decorated gourd, dated to the French Revolution period, has been alleged to con... more A pyrographically decorated gourd, dated to the French Revolution period, has been alleged to contain a handkerchief dipped into the blood of the French king Louis XVI (1754-1793) after his beheading but recent analyses of living males from two Bourbon branches cast doubts on its authenticity. We sequenced the complete genome of the DNA contained in the gourd at low coverage (,2.53) with coding sequences enriched at a higher ,7.33 coverage. We found that the ancestry of the gourd's genome does not seem compatible with Louis XVI's known ancestry. From a functional perspective, we did not find an excess of alleles contributing to height despite being described as the tallest person in Court. In addition, the eye colour prediction supported brown eyes, while Louis XVI had blue eyes. This is the first draft genome generated from a person who lived in a recent historical period; however, our results suggest that this sample may not correspond to the alleged king.

Research paper thumbnail of Derived immune and ancestral pigmentation alleles in a 7,000-year-old Mesolithic European

Nature, 2014

Ancient genomic sequences have started to reveal the origin and the demographic impact of farmers... more Ancient genomic sequences have started to reveal the origin and the demographic impact of farmers from the Neolithic period spreading into Europe 1-3 . The adoption of farming, stock breeding and sedentary societies during the Neolithic may have resulted in adaptive changes in genes associated with immunity and diet 4 . However, the limited data available from earlier hunter-gatherers preclude an understanding of the selective processes associated with this crucial transition to agriculture in recent human evolution. Here we sequence an approximately 7,000-year-old Mesolithic skeleton discovered at the La Braña-Arintero site in León, Spain, to retrieve a complete pre-agricultural European human genome. Analysis of this genome in the context of other ancient samples suggests the existence of a common ancient genomic signature across western and central Eurasia from the Upper Paleolithic to the Mesolithic. The La Braña individual carries ancestral alleles in several skin pigmentation genes, suggesting that the light skin of modern Europeans was not yet ubiquitous in Mesolithic times. Moreover, we provide evidence that a significant number of derived, putatively adaptive variants associated with pathogen resistance in modern Europeans were already present in this hunter-gatherer.

Research paper thumbnail of Population connectivity buffers genetic diversity loss in a seabird

Frontiers in Zoology, 2013

Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring o... more Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring of the genetic variability of species through time and predicting the impact of ecosystems' threats on future population dynamics and viability. Meanwhile, the consequences of anthropogenic activities and climate change to island faunas, particularly seabirds, remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined temporal changes in the genetic diversity of a threatened seabird, the Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis).

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic comparison of the head of Henri IV and the presumptive blood from Louis XVI (both Kings of France)

Forensic Science International, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic Affinities of Two 7,000-Year-Old Iberian Hunter-Gatherers

Research paper thumbnail of Mitochondrial DNA from El Mirador Cave (Atapuerca, Spain) Reveals the Heterogeneity of Chalcolithic Populations

PLoS ONE, 2014

Previous mitochondrial DNA analyses on ancient European remains have suggested that the current d... more Previous mitochondrial DNA analyses on ancient European remains have suggested that the current distribution of haplogroup H was modeled by the expansion of the Bell Beaker culture (ca 4,500-4,050 years BP) out of Iberia during the Chalcolithic period. However, little is known on the genetic composition of contemporaneous Iberian populations that do not carry the archaeological tool kit defining this culture. Here we have retrieved mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from 19 individuals from a Chalcolithic sample from El Mirador cave in Spain, dated to 4,760-4,200 years BP and we have analyzed the haplogroup composition in the context of modern and ancient populations. Regarding extant African, Asian and European populations, El Mirador shows affinities with Near Eastern groups. In different analyses with other ancient samples, El Mirador clusters with Middle and Late Neolithic populations from Germany, belonging to the Rö ssen, the Salzmü nde and the Baalberge archaeological cultures but not with contemporaneous Bell Beakers. Our analyses support the existence of a common genetic signal between Western and Central Europe during the Middle and Late Neolithic and points to a heterogeneous genetic landscape among Chalcolithic groups.

Articles & Book Sections by Iñigo Olalde

Research paper thumbnail of ¿Un ulises campaniforme en el túmulo de tablada del rudrón (burgos)? ADN estépico y pendientes de oro de tipo británico en el enterramiento del fundador.

In G. Delibes and E. Guerra (eds). ¡Un brindis por el príncipe! El vaso campaniforme en el interior de la península Ibérica (2500-2000 a.C, Madrid, Museo Arqueológico Regional, 338-60., 2019

ÍNDICE 11 La decoración con rellenos de pasta en las cerámicas campaniformes Carlos P. Odriozola ... more ÍNDICE 11 La decoración con rellenos de pasta en las cerámicas campaniformes Carlos P. Odriozola 25 La minería del cobre "en época campaniforme" a través de las labores subterráneas, in extenso, de la Sierra del Aramo (Riosa, Asturias)

Research paper thumbnail of Population connectivity buffers genetic diversity loss in a seabird

Frontiers in Zoology

Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring o... more Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring of the genetic variability of species through time and predicting the impact of ecosystems' threats on future population dynamics and viability. Meanwhile, the consequences of anthropogenic activities and climate change to island faunas, particularly seabirds, remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined temporal changes in the genetic diversity of a threatened seabird, the Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis). Findings: We analysed the mitochondrial DNA control region of ancient bone samples from the late-Holocene retrieved from the Canary archipelago (NE Atlantic) together with modern DNA sequences representative of the entire breeding range of the species. Our results show high levels of ancient genetic diversity in the Canaries comparable to that of the extant population. The temporal haplotype network further revealed rare but recurrent long-distance dispersal betwe...

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of structural diversity in wolf-like canids reveals post-domestication variants

BMC Genomics, 2014

Background: Although a variety of genetic changes have been implicated in causing phenotypic diff... more Background: Although a variety of genetic changes have been implicated in causing phenotypic differences among dogs, the role of copy number variants (CNVs) and their impact on phenotypic variation is still poorly understood. Further, very limited knowledge exists on structural variation in the gray wolf, the ancestor of the dog, or other closely related wild canids. Documenting CNVs variation in wild canids is essential to identify ancestral states and variation that may have appeared after domestication.

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic analysis of the blood attributed to Louis XVI (1754–1793), king of France

Scientific Reports, 2014

A pyrographically decorated gourd, dated to the French Revolution period, has been alleged to con... more A pyrographically decorated gourd, dated to the French Revolution period, has been alleged to contain a handkerchief dipped into the blood of the French king Louis XVI (1754-1793) after his beheading but recent analyses of living males from two Bourbon branches cast doubts on its authenticity. We sequenced the complete genome of the DNA contained in the gourd at low coverage (,2.53) with coding sequences enriched at a higher ,7.33 coverage. We found that the ancestry of the gourd's genome does not seem compatible with Louis XVI's known ancestry. From a functional perspective, we did not find an excess of alleles contributing to height despite being described as the tallest person in Court. In addition, the eye colour prediction supported brown eyes, while Louis XVI had blue eyes. This is the first draft genome generated from a person who lived in a recent historical period; however, our results suggest that this sample may not correspond to the alleged king.

Research paper thumbnail of Derived immune and ancestral pigmentation alleles in a 7,000-year-old Mesolithic European

Nature, 2014

Ancient genomic sequences have started to reveal the origin and the demographic impact of farmers... more Ancient genomic sequences have started to reveal the origin and the demographic impact of farmers from the Neolithic period spreading into Europe 1-3 . The adoption of farming, stock breeding and sedentary societies during the Neolithic may have resulted in adaptive changes in genes associated with immunity and diet 4 . However, the limited data available from earlier hunter-gatherers preclude an understanding of the selective processes associated with this crucial transition to agriculture in recent human evolution. Here we sequence an approximately 7,000-year-old Mesolithic skeleton discovered at the La Braña-Arintero site in León, Spain, to retrieve a complete pre-agricultural European human genome. Analysis of this genome in the context of other ancient samples suggests the existence of a common ancient genomic signature across western and central Eurasia from the Upper Paleolithic to the Mesolithic. The La Braña individual carries ancestral alleles in several skin pigmentation genes, suggesting that the light skin of modern Europeans was not yet ubiquitous in Mesolithic times. Moreover, we provide evidence that a significant number of derived, putatively adaptive variants associated with pathogen resistance in modern Europeans were already present in this hunter-gatherer.

Research paper thumbnail of Population connectivity buffers genetic diversity loss in a seabird

Frontiers in Zoology, 2013

Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring o... more Background: Ancient DNA has revolutionized conservation genetic studies as it allows monitoring of the genetic variability of species through time and predicting the impact of ecosystems' threats on future population dynamics and viability. Meanwhile, the consequences of anthropogenic activities and climate change to island faunas, particularly seabirds, remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined temporal changes in the genetic diversity of a threatened seabird, the Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis).

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic comparison of the head of Henri IV and the presumptive blood from Louis XVI (both Kings of France)

Forensic Science International, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic Affinities of Two 7,000-Year-Old Iberian Hunter-Gatherers

Research paper thumbnail of Mitochondrial DNA from El Mirador Cave (Atapuerca, Spain) Reveals the Heterogeneity of Chalcolithic Populations

PLoS ONE, 2014

Previous mitochondrial DNA analyses on ancient European remains have suggested that the current d... more Previous mitochondrial DNA analyses on ancient European remains have suggested that the current distribution of haplogroup H was modeled by the expansion of the Bell Beaker culture (ca 4,500-4,050 years BP) out of Iberia during the Chalcolithic period. However, little is known on the genetic composition of contemporaneous Iberian populations that do not carry the archaeological tool kit defining this culture. Here we have retrieved mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from 19 individuals from a Chalcolithic sample from El Mirador cave in Spain, dated to 4,760-4,200 years BP and we have analyzed the haplogroup composition in the context of modern and ancient populations. Regarding extant African, Asian and European populations, El Mirador shows affinities with Near Eastern groups. In different analyses with other ancient samples, El Mirador clusters with Middle and Late Neolithic populations from Germany, belonging to the Rö ssen, the Salzmü nde and the Baalberge archaeological cultures but not with contemporaneous Bell Beakers. Our analyses support the existence of a common genetic signal between Western and Central Europe during the Middle and Late Neolithic and points to a heterogeneous genetic landscape among Chalcolithic groups.

Research paper thumbnail of ¿Un ulises campaniforme en el túmulo de tablada del rudrón (burgos)? ADN estépico y pendientes de oro de tipo británico en el enterramiento del fundador.

In G. Delibes and E. Guerra (eds). ¡Un brindis por el príncipe! El vaso campaniforme en el interior de la península Ibérica (2500-2000 a.C, Madrid, Museo Arqueológico Regional, 338-60., 2019

ÍNDICE 11 La decoración con rellenos de pasta en las cerámicas campaniformes Carlos P. Odriozola ... more ÍNDICE 11 La decoración con rellenos de pasta en las cerámicas campaniformes Carlos P. Odriozola 25 La minería del cobre "en época campaniforme" a través de las labores subterráneas, in extenso, de la Sierra del Aramo (Riosa, Asturias)