Working with bones, historical and ancient DNA (aDNA), and museums

Illustration by Patricia Pillay

🧬 Collaborating with Auckland Museum

As an AMI Postgraduate Scholar, I’ve been working in collaboration with Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum to study the DNA of historical bird specimens — specifically focusing on Pacific parrots. Using toe pads from 19th and 20th-century Vini parrot study skins, we’re able to extract and sequence genetic material that helps improve taxonomic identification of ancient avian remains from archaeological sites. This work is contributing to a better understanding of past bird biodiversity in Oceania and filling critical gaps in global genetic databases. Read more below!

🧪 Suiting Up for the Past: Life in the Ancient DNA Lab

Ancient DNA research requires signigicant care and a dedicated environment to prevent contamination from modern DNA, especially from bacteria! Before I can even begin working with historical samples like bird toe pads or archaeological bones, we alwasy suit up in full personal protective equipment (PPE) — including a hooded Tyvek suit, face mask, face shield, double gloves, and boot covers. Ask any geneticist working with ancient DNA and they will be all too familiar with this attire!

Inside our specialised clean lab at the University of Auckland, all surfaces are sterilised, air is filtered, and protocols are designed to protect both the ancient DNA and the integrity of the research. It’s a space where even the smallest traces of genetic material — often invisible to the eye can provide a wealth of new information from old bone and tissue!

Suited up for DNA prep work! Most of the time I am preparing lab reagents to then use for DNA extraction and PCR steps before we get to sequencing! Photo by Dr Natalie dos Remedios at the University of Auckland Anthropology Palaeomolecular Laboratory