Ruairidh Macleod
A5024155628- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Race, Genetics, and Society
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Digestive system and related health
- Historical Geography and Cartography
- Advanced Proteomics Techniques and Applications
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Caribbean history, culture, and politics
- Marine animal studies overview
- Conservation Techniques and Studies
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Eurasian Exchange Networks
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Evolutionary Genomics (United States)
2025
University of Copenhagen
2020-2025
Arthur B. McDonald-Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute
2025
University of Cambridge
2018-2025
University College London
2022-2025
Lundbeck Foundation
2022-2024
Natural History Museum
2022
Abstract Western Eurasia witnessed several large-scale human migrations during the Holocene 1–5 . Here, to investigate cross-continental effects of these migrations, we shotgun-sequenced 317 genomes—mainly from Mesolithic and Neolithic periods—from across northern western Eurasia. These were imputed alongside published data obtain diploid genotypes more than 1,600 ancient humans. Our analyses revealed a ‘great divide’ genomic boundary extending Black Sea Baltic. hunter-gatherers highly...
The Holocene (beginning around 12,000 years ago) encompassed some of the most significant changes in human evolution, with far-reaching consequences for dietary, physical and mental health present-day populations. Using a dataset more than 1,600 imputed ancient genomes
Abstract Major migration events in Holocene Eurasia have been characterized genetically at broad regional scales 1–4 . However, insights into the population dynamics contact zones are hampered by a lack of ancient genomic data sampled high spatiotemporal resolution 5–7 Here, to address this, we analysed shotgun-sequenced genomes from 100 skeletons spanning 7,300 years Mesolithic period, Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age Denmark integrated these with proxies for diet ( 13 C 15 N content),...
The survival of medieval manuscripts in their original bindings remains a rare occurrence. Taking advantage the diversity Cistercian libraries such as Clairvaux and its daughter abbeys during twelfth thirteenth centuries, this study focuses on biocodicological analysis manuscript bindings, with particular emphasis use sealskins. Using innovative methods electrostatic zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (eZooMS) ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, research identifies animal species origin leather...
Summary Western Eurasia witnessed several large-scale human migrations during the Holocene 1–5 . To investigate cross-continental impacts we shotgun-sequenced 317 primarily Mesolithic and Neolithic genomes from across Northern Eurasia. These were imputed alongside published data to obtain diploid genotypes >1,600 ancient humans. Our analyses revealed a ‘Great Divide’ genomic boundary extending Black Sea Baltic. hunter-gatherers (HGs) highly genetically differentiated east west of this...
We report genome sequence data from six individuals excavated the base of a medieval well at site in Norwich, UK. A revised radiocarbon analysis assemblage is consistent with these being part historically attested episode antisemitic violence on 6 February 1190 CE. find that four were closely related and all have strong genetic affinities modern Ashkenazi Jews. identify alleles associated disease Jewish populations infer variation pigmentation traits, including presence red hair. Simulations...
The North Pontic region, which encompasses present-day Ukraine, was a crossroads of migration, connecting the vast Eurasian Steppe with Central Europe. We generated shotgun-sequenced genomic data for 91 individuals dating from around 7000 BCE to 1800 CE study migration and mobility history in particular focus on historically attested migrating groups during Iron Age medieval period. infer high degree temporal heterogeneity ancestry, fluctuating genetic affinities different groups. also...
Summary The Eurasian Holocene (beginning c. 12 thousand years ago) encompassed some of the most significant changes in human evolution, with far-reaching consequences for dietary, physical and mental health present-day populations. Using an imputed dataset >1600 complete ancient genome sequences, new computational methods locating selection time space, we reconstructed landscape transition from hunting gathering, to farming pastoralism across West Eurasia. We identify major signals...
Long‐distance raw material transfers across Romania prior to the Last Glacial Maximum have previously been inferred from either visual and/or petrographic observations of East Carpathian sites. We investigated potential ‘fingerprint’ flint archaeological sites at Mitoc‐Malu Galben and Bistricioara–Lutărie III in Eastern Romania, using situ high‐precision analyses 28 major, minor trace elements determined by laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) combination...
Palaeoproteomics is a rapidly evolving discipline, and practitioners are constantly developing novel strategies for the analyses interpretations of complex, degraded protein mixtures. The community has also established standards good practice to interrogate our data. However, there lack systematic exploration how these affect identification peptides, post-translational modifications (PTMs), proteins their significance (through False Discovery Rate) correctness. We systematically investigated...
Jetsam ambergris, found on beaches worldwide, has always been assumed to originate as a natural product of sperm whales (Physeteroidea). However, only indirect evidence ever produced for this, such the presence whale prey remains in ambergris. Here, we extracted and analysed DNA sequences from jetsam ambergris New Zealand Sri Lanka, beached The Netherlands. lipid-rich composition facilitated high preservation-quality endogenous DNA, upon which performed shotgun Illumina sequencing. Alignment...
Abstract Palaeoproteomics is a rapidly evolving discipline, and practitioners are constantly developing novel strategies for the analyses interpretations of complex, degraded protein mixtures. The community has also established standards good practice to interrogate our data. However, there lack systematic exploration how these affect identification peptides, post-translational modifications (PTMs), proteins their significance (through False Discovery Rate) correctness. We systematically...
Summary The North Pontic region, which encompasses present-day Ukraine, was a crossroads of migration as it connected the vast Eurasian Steppe with Central Europe. We generated shotgun-sequenced genomic data for 91 individuals dating from around 7,000 BCE to 1,800 CE study and mobility history in particular focus on historically attested migrating groups during Iron Age medieval period, such Scythian, Chernyakhiv, Saltiv Nogai associated peoples. infer high degree temporal heterogeneity...
Abstract Ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) is now commonly used in paleoecology and evolutionary ecology, yet due to difficulties gaining sufficient genome coverage on individual species from metagenome data, its genetic perspectives remain largely uninvestigated. Hybridization capture has proven as an effective approach for enriching the of target species, thus increasing sequencing data enabling population genetics analysis. However, date there no tool available designing probe sets...
Abstract The rise of zoonotic diseases in prehistory is often associated with the Neolithic agricultural transition 1,2 . In particular, plague has been linked to population declines Late Europe 3,4 Although amongst most devastating human history, early strains Yersinia pestis, causal agent plague, lack virulence factors required for bubonic form 5 , and their severity remains unclear. Here, we describe oldest reported so far, two phases outbreaks among prehistoric hunter–gatherers Lake...
ABSTRACT A small Mesolithic camp site near Sammakko in northernmost Sweden has been identified through its abundance of burnt bone and quartz refuse from stone tool manufacturing/maintenance. Radiocarbon dating places hunter–gatherer activity here around 8900 years ago, 1800 later than the oldest known settlement Norrbotten, Aareavaara site. Sediment stratigraphy nearby lake basins suggests that final melting stagnant ice, trapped undulating Veiki‐moraine landscape, occurred 9200 ago....