Topic: contamination

Study human and non-human ancient DNA from sampling and laboratory methods to computational interpretation. Lectures address degradation, contamination, extraction, library preparation and sequencing choices. Hands-on work covers preprocessing, mapping and reference bias, authentication and damage, low-coverage genotype approaches, ancestry estimation, phylogenomic analysis and admixture statistics. The programme connects these methods to evolutionary and archaeological questions while examining ethical responsibilities and limits of inference from degraded material. Live sessions: 21, 22, 25

Generate and interpret genomic evidence from natural-history collections. Lectures and practicals address historical-DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing, then mapping, damage, contamination and coverage biases. Analyses of population structure, relatedness, diversity and demographic history lead into temporal studies of adaptation, genetic erosion and genetic load. Case studies connect museum specimens with molecular ecology and conservation decisions. 2027-02-08–2027-02-12, 09:00–14:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Online course; fee €530. Basic evolutionary-genomics