300222 VO Scientific methods and applications in human evolution (2022S)

We currently live in a golden age for biomolecular-based discoveries in human evolution. From the development of ancient genomics to palaeoproteomics, to the recovery of ancient microbiomes and pathogens, coupled with exciting advances in chronometric studies, the last two decades have seen the discovery of several new human species for the last 1 million years.

In this lecture series we will review some of the most important scientific (biomolecular) methods used in the field of Human Evolution, and discuss significant new discoveries made using these tools.

The series is structured as weekly lectures with selected experts from the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology presenting on the following :

1.03.22 - Ass.-Prof. Katerina Douka (katerina.douka@univie.ac.at):

10.03.22 & 17.03.22 - Ass.-Prof. Verena Schuenemann & Dr Pere Gelabert: Introduction to ancient DNA and methods and palaeogenomic studies linked to human evolution.

24.03.22 & 31.03.22 - Professor Tom Higham (thomas.higham@univie.ac.at): Introduction to chronometric methods in human evolution; applications of radiocarbon dating to date the demise of Neanderthal and emergence of early modern humans.

07.04.22 - Ass.-Prof. Katerina Douka (katerina.douka@univie.ac.at): Palaeoproteomics in human evolution

28.04.22 &05.05.22 - Ass.-Prof. Martin Kuhlwilm (martin.kuhlwilm@univie.ac.at): Genetic introgression in humans and primates and consequences of introgression.

12.05.22 & 19.05.22 - Ass.-Prof. Verena Schuenemann (verena.schuenemann@univie.ac.at): Ancient pathogen genomics, and microbiomes and metagenomics