The Leakey Foundation

02.24.22

Ancient DNA helps reveal social changes in Africa that shaped the human story

An interdisciplinary team has sequenced and analyzed the oldest ancient DNA from Africa. This new research gives insights into the lives, movements, and relations of people who lived in Africa between 18,000 and 5,000 years ago.

02.13.20

First Ancient DNA from West Africa Illuminates the Deep Human Past

A team of international researchers, with support from The Leakey Foundation, dug deep to find some of the oldest African DNA on record, in a new study published in Nature.

05.29.19

From the Field: Frido Welker, Copenhagen

From the Field

Not all paleolithic research happens in the field! In fact, nowadays a lot of it happens in laboratories hidden away in university buildings and research institutes. Leakey Foundation grantee Frido Welker studies ancient proteins preserved in archaeological bone in order to learn more about human evolution.

04.30.19

Grantee Spotlight: Frido Welker

Grantee Spotlight

Ancient DNA research has revolutionized the study of human evolution, but some time periods and geographic regions have not yet yielded usable DNA. Leakey Foundation grantee Frido Welker is a postdoctoral researcher who is testing new methodologies for breaking down and extracting ancient proteins.

08.23.18

Neanderthal Mother, Denisovan Father

Journal Article

Together with their sister group the Neanderthals, Denisovans are the closest extinct relatives of currently living humans. Now researchers have discovered a tiny fossil from an individual who is the offspring of a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father.

Archives for ancient DNA

Ancient DNA helps reveal social changes in Africa that shaped the human story

First Ancient DNA from West Africa Illuminates the Deep Human Past

From the Field: Frido Welker, Copenhagen

Grantee Spotlight: Frido Welker

Neanderthal Mother, Denisovan Father