Physical
Anthropology
Environmental Archaeology
Research
Interests
Research interests of the SFU ancient DNA laboratory are focused
on archaeology-oriented ancient DNA studies. Our current research includes the
following:
ü Developing effective and efficient methods for DNA
extraction, PCR amplification, contamination controls and ancient DNA
authentication
ü Investigating new DNA markers and developing new techniques
for reliable species, sex or individual identifications of ancient human,
animal or plant remains
ü Deconstructing archaeological questions and developing
DNA-testable hypotheses
ü Expanding ancient DNA’s applicability in the study of archaeological
and anthropological issues, as well as in the identification of human remains
in forensic cold cases
ü Understanding the dynamic interactions between humans, animal
and plants in the study of environmental archaeology at a molecular level.
Previous and
on-going projects involve DNA analysis of archaeological remains of salmon,
chicken, whale, northern fur seal, sturgeon, turkey, elk, rabbit, sheep, goat,
cattle, horse and water buffalo.
Our research is more question-oriented than region-specific. However two
of our current environmental bioarchaeological projects focus on the study of
ancient faunal remains from the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America (see
the image below, on the central coast of BC and the western coast of Vancouver
Island).
Yang’s
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