ADVANCED COURSE: ARCHAEOGENETICS APPROACHES TO INVESTIGATE DOMESTICATION AND EVOLUTION
It is now generally agreed that wide diachronic genetic studies are required to infer the origins and evolutionary trajectories of domestic animals. Heterochronous data (spanning long time scales) from zooarchaeological specimens allows a direct investigation of changes within populations over time. Analysis of ancient DNA opens a direct window into the past for reconstruction of the genetic history of animal populations.
The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the most recent Archaeogenetics findings on the origin and evolution of domestic species. It will also cover some of the recommended bioinformatics tools and methods for the analysis of ancient DNA sequence data. There will be hands-on sessions, including bioinformatics on how to filter, infer damage patterns and authenticate next-generation-sequence data obtained from archaeological specimens. One invited speaker in Paleogenomics will also contribute to the course.
At the end of the course the students should understand the potentialities of including genomic data on past populations to make evolutionary inferences, as well as get familiar with the challenges and peculiarities of ancient DNA analysis.
PROGRAMME
1st Day – May 20
10:00-10:30 - Course Introduction.
10:30-11:30 - Zooarchaeology of domestic species Simon | Davis & Cleia Detry
Coffee break
12:00-13:00 - Hands-on Zooarchaeology | Simon Davis & Cleia Detry
14.00-16:00 - Dog origins and evolution | Ana Elisabete Pires
Coffee break
16:30-18:00 - Hands-on 3D skeleton reconstruction. Art & Science: Digital animation - A mesolithic dog | Hugo Pereira & Ana Elisabete Pires
2nd Day – May 21
10:00-11:30 - Recap (30 min). Archaeobotanics of domesticated plants | João Tereso
Coffee break
12:00-13:00 - Low-cost high-throughput metabarcoding for degraded samples | Silvia Guimarães
14.00-16:00 - Genomic studies on aurochs and their domestic counterparts | Catarina Ginja
Coffee break
16:.30-18:00 - Documentary on ancient DNA techniques
3rd Day – May 22
10:00-11:30 - Recap (30 min). Demography and Approximate Bayesian Simulation | Lounés Chikhi
Coffee break
12:00-13:00 - Hands-on Population demography | Lounés Chikhi
14.00-16:00 - Hands-on Population demography | Lounés Chikhi
Coffee break
16:30-18:00 - Hands-on Population demography | Lounés Chikhi
4th Day – May 23
10:00-11:30 - Recap (30 min). Domestication of cats | Invited lecturer Claudio Ottoni
Coffee break
12:00-13:00 - Hands-on Paleogenomics data analysis | Claudio Ottoni
14.00-16:00 - Hands-on Paleogenomics data analysis | Claudio Ottoni
Coffee break
16:.30-18:00 - Hands-on Paleogenomics data analysis | Claudio Ottoni
5th Day – May 24
10:00-11:30 - Recap (30 min). Hands-on Paleogenomics data analysis | Claudio Ottoni
Coffee break
12:00-13.00 - Wrap-up session and evaluation. General conclusions.
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Catarina Ginja - CIBIO-InBIO | ARCHGEN
Ana Elisabete Pires - LARC-DGPC & CIBIO-InBIO | ARCHGEN
Silvia Guimaraes - CIBIO-InBIO| ARCHGEN
Simon Davis - LARC-DGPC & CIBIO-InBIO | ENVARCH
João Tereso - CIBIO-InBIO | ENVARCH
Cleia Detry - Universidade de Lisboa | UNIARQ
Claudio Ottoni - University of Rome "la Sapienza"
Lounés Chikhi - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência
Hugo Pereira - Hospital Veterinário do Restel
INTENDED AUDIENCE
The course will be open to a maximum number of 20 participants.
75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students. Priority will be given to:
• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;
• PhD students attending other courses;
• Other post-graduate students and researchers.
REGISTRATION
Registration deadline: April 22, 2019 - New date
To apply, please fill the form available HERE
Participation is free of charge for BIODIV students | 95 € (students) | 200 € (other participants). CIBIO-InBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%. All applicants will be notified about whether they are accepted until April 30, 2019.
Please note that new rules apply for all BIODIV students.
