Our Outreach
Welcome to microARCH’s outreach page! This section is dedicated to providing educators, budding scientists, and the media with the tools with which to engage with ancient microbiome research. As learners and educators ourselves, we believe that our science should be accessible to the public. If you have questions, suggestions, or requests for new materials, please contact us.
Ancient DNA Journal Club
MicroARCH's biweekly ancient DNA Journal club is a free online event open to all researchers from the undergraduate to the faculty level. Established locally in Penn State in the Fall of 2019, our discussions have grown to include a wide range of domestic and international participants. Papers for upkeeping meetings are emailed out to participants and advertised on our twitter posts. For more information or to be added to the listserv, email us at asg5573 [at] psu.edu
Note: aDNA Journal Club operates according to the PSU academic calendar during the fall and spring semesters.
Fall 2021
Tracking the transition to agriculture in Southern Europe through ancient DNA analysis of dental calculus
Ancient DNA studies: Use of ethnonyms and collaborative research in South America
Dental calculus as a proxy for animal microbiomes
Mycobacterium leprae diversity and population dynamics in medieval Europe from novel ancient genomes
Metagenomic analysis of ancient dental calculus reveals unexplored diversity of oral archaeal Methanobrevibacter
Ethics of DNA research on human remains: five globally applicable guidelines
Spring 2021
Unearthing Neanderthal population history using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from cave sediments
An integrative skeletal and paleogenomic analysis of prehistoric stature variation suggests relatively reduced health for early European farmers
Do I have something in my teeth? The trouble with genetic analyses of diet from archaeological dental calculus
An ethical crisis in ancient DNA research: Insights from the Chaco Canyon controversy as a case study
Integrative analysis of DNA, macroscopic remains and stable isotopes of dog coprolites to reconstruct community diet
Generations of genomes: advances in paleogenomics technology and engagement for Indigenous people of the Americas
Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage
Isolation, Library Preparation, and Bioinformatic Analysis of Historical and Ancient Plant DNA
Fall 2020
Origins and genetic legacy of prehistoric dogs
Functional diversity of microbial ecologies estimated from ancient human coprolites and dental calculus
The Impact of Ancient Genome Studies in Archaeology
Population genomics of the Viking world
Ancient Bacterial Genomes Reveal a High Diversity of Treponema pallidum Strains in Early Modern Europe
Fostering Responsible Research on Ancient DNA
Educator Resources
This section is intended to provide K-12 educators with the resources to instruct students in ancient DNA, microbiome, and archaeological topics. If you do not find what you are looking for on this page or have suggestions for new materials, please contact us at asg5573@psu.edu and we will be happy to work with you to generate new content.
Resource List
Lectures & Instructional Videos:
How Humans and the Environment Interact
Dr. Weyrich discusses how humans and the enviornment interact as part of the 7th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander microbiome reflects long term connection to country
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander microbiome reflects long term connection to country (talk by Dr. Weyrich at the 7th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium).
Changing the Game in Ancient DNA Research | The Symbiotic Podcast Live
Laura Weyrich's research is on the cutting edge of inquiry into the oral microbiome, and she's leading efforts to better understand the impact of diet on the communities of microorganisms that reside in our mouths and their influence on human health. In this episode, Weyrich, Associate Professor of Anthropology and a member of the Huck's Microbiome Center, talks about her work with Neanderthal teeth, the ethics of dealing with human remains, and how shifts in human activity have changed the makeup of our microbiomes.
Conversation with Associate Professor of Anthropology Laura Weyrich
Dr. Weyrich discusses the role of the microbiome in our evolution and how it has shaped our health, diet, culture, and lived experience with a discussion panel.
Publications & Blog Posts for Kids
Teeth gunk and fossilised poo—exploring the ancient microbiome
As part of the Past, Present and Future of the Human Niche series, Assoc Prof Laura Weyrich joins host Graeme Richardson and colleagues from the Department of Archaeology in conversation about the Human Niche.
The Millions of Microbial Reasons You Need to Brush Your Teeth
A scientific journal paper for young readers authored by our lab members covering the oral microbiome and its realtion to evolution and health.