Research labs

Paleogenomics lab

The study of the structure, function and organisation of ancestral genomes are the focal points of the Paleogenomics lab. More specifically, it looks at the different evolutionary problems that can be answered with ancient DNA data, such as those involving human evolution, population dynamics and diversity, as well as adaptive processes and past migrations. This lab works with ancient modern humans and with an extinct hominin species, Neanderthals. Regarding the latter, the research carried out to date has mainly been focused on genomic diversity among Neanderthals and the individualisation of a Neanderthal family group from El Sidrón, an archaeological site in the Asturias region of northern Spain. The Paleogenomics lab is also investigating the evolutionary dynamics and past migrations in European prehistory through the analysis of Mesolithic, Neolithic, Copper Age and Bronze Age human genomes.

Principal investigator: Carles Lalueza-Fox

Members of the lab: Pere Gelabert, PhD Student; Toni de-Dios, Undergraduate Student, and Manuel Ferrando, PhD Student

Main publications and other research activities:

Lipson, M., Szécsényi-Nagy, A., Mallick, S., Pósa, A., Stégmár, B., Keerl, V., Rohland, N., Stewardson, K., Ferry, M., Michel, M., Oppenheimer, J., Broomandkhoshbacht, N., Harney, E., Nordenfelt, S., Llamas, B., Mende, B., Köhler, K., Oross, K., Bondár, M., Marton, T., Osztás, A., Jakucs, J., Paluch, T., Horváth, F., Csengeri, P., Koós, J., Sebők, K., Anders, A., Raczky, P., Regenye, J., Barna, J., Fábián, S., Serlegi, G., Toldi, Z., Nagy, E., Dani, J., Molnár, E., Pálfi, G., Márk, L., Melegh, B., Bánfai, Z., Fernández-Eraso, J., Mujika-Alustiza, J., Alonso Fernández, C., Jiménez Echevarría, J., Bollongino, R., Orschiedt, J., Schierhold, K., Meller, H., Cooper, A., Burger, J., Bánffy, E., Alt, K., Lalueza-Fox, C., Haak, W., Domboróczki, L., Reich, D. (2017) Parallel paleogenomic transects reveal complex genetic history of early European farmers. Nature 551: 368-372.

Rosas, A., Ríos, L., Estalrrich, A., Liversidge, H., García-Tabernero, A., Huguet, R., Cardoso, H., Bastir, M., Lalueza-Fox, C., de la Rasilla, M., Dean, C. (2017). The growth pattern of Neandertals, reconstructed from a juvenile skeleton from El Sidrón (Spain) (2017). Science 357: 1282-1887.

Slon, V., Hopfe, C., Weiß, C.L., Mafessoni, F., de la Rasilla, M., Lalueza-Fox, C., Rosas, A., Soressi, M., Knul, M.V., Miller, R., Stewart, J.R., Derevianko, A.P., Jacobs, Z., Li, B., Roberts, R.G., Shunkov, M.V., de Lumley, H., Perrenoud, C., Gušić, I.,  Kućan,  Z., Rudan, P., Aximu-Petri, A., Essel,  E., Nagel, S., Nickel, B., Schmidt, A., Prüfer, K., Kelso, J., Burbano, H.,A., Pääbo, S., Meyer, M. (2017) Neandertal and Denisovan DNA from Pleistocene sediments. Science 356:605-608.

Weyrich, L.S., Duchene, S., Soubrier, J., Arriola, L., Llamas, B., Breen, J., Morris, A.G., Alt, K.W., Caramelli, D., Dresely, V., Farrell, M., Farrer, A.G., Francken, M., Gully. N., Haak, W., Hardy. K., Harvati, K., Held, P., Holmes, E.C., Kaidonis, J., Lalueza-Fox, C., de la Rasilla, M., Rosas, A., Semal, P., Soltysiak, A., Townsend, G., Usai, D., Wahl, J., Huson, D.H., Dobney, K., Cooper. A. (2017) Neanderthal behaviour, diet and disease inferred from ancient DNA in dental calculus. Nature 544: 357-361.

Funding (active projects in 2017 only):

More information: Paleogenomics lab’s website