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Call for papers - Ancient DNA

Guest Editors:
Ningbo Chen: Northwest A&F University, China
Artem Nedoluzhko: European University at Saint Petersburg, Russia

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024


Nearly four decades after the inception of the field, ancient DNA research has been brought back to the spotlight thanks to the attribution of the prestigious Nobel Prize to Prof Svante Pääbo in 2022. Technological and methodical advances in the field, such as next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics models, have since enabled researchers to venture where they had never been before and to gain a unique perspective by diving into the history of species to unravel their genetic heritage. This exciting field mixes genetics and history and still has so much to offer as an increasing number of genomes are revealed, each adding a piece to the puzzle of our history on Earth.

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BMC Genomics

BMC Genomic Data

Meet the Guest Editors

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Ningbo Chen: Northwest A&F University, China

Dr. Chen is an Associate Professor in the College of Animal Science and Technology at Northwest A&F University. Dr. Chen is mainly engaged in research on genetic evolution and population genetics, focusing on "bovine genomics and paleogenomics research", based on the extended application of innovative ancient DNA experimental technology, in-depth exploration of the origin and evolutionary history of cattle and its associated species from the perspective of genetics, and elucidation of modern East Asian cattle. Dr. Chen has served on the Editorial Board of BMC Genomics and BMC Genomic Data since 2023.

Artem Nedoluzhko: European University at Saint Petersburg, Russia

Artem Nedoluzhko is the Head of the Paleogenomics laboratory at the European University at Saint Petersburg. He has extensive research experience in the area of evolutionary genomics of vertebrates (i.e., aquatic animals). He studied Biology at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) and obtained his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Science in 2008. His research is focused on the evolutionary genomics of vertebrates, including using museum and ancient DNA. Dr. Nedoluzhko is a member of the editorial board of BMC Genomics.

About the collection

Nearly four decades after the inception of the field, ancient DNA research has been brought back to the spotlight a thanks to the attribution of the prestigious Nobel Prize to Prof Svante Pääbo in 2022. Technological and methodical advances in the field, such as next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics models, have since enabled researchers to venture where they had never been before and to gain a unique perspective by diving into the history of species to unravel their genetic heritage. This exciting field mixes genetics and history and still has so much to offer as an increasing number of genomes are revealed, each adding a piece to the puzzle of our history on Earth.

BMC Genomics and BMC Genomic Data invite submissions to our “Ancient DNA” Collection. We welcome submissions looking at ancient DNA in all realms of life, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes and in any kind of genome.  The broad areas covered by this Collection are: human genomics, domestication and animal genomics, plant genomics, pathogen and microbiome genomics, extinction and climate change genomics, and environmental DNA.  We also welcome ancient DNA analytical methods. Research Articles will be considered by both journals and we would like to encourage the submissions of ancient DNA Data Notes to BMC Genomic Data. 

Image credit: © ktsdesign / stock.adobe.com

  2. The last decade has seen advancements in sequencing technologies and laboratory preparation protocols for ancient DNA (aDNA) that have rapidly been applied in multiple research areas thus enabling large-scale ...

    Authors: Ningbo Chen and Artem Nedoluzhko
    Citation: BMC Genomics 2023 24:309
    Content type: Editorial Published on:

  3. The inference of biological relations between individuals is fundamental to understanding past human societies. Caregiving, resource sharing and sexual behaviours are often mediated by biological kinship and y...

    Authors: William A Marsh, Selina Brace and Ian Barnes
    Citation: BMC Genomics 2023 24:111
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles, Data Notes, Case Reports, Study Protocols, and Database Articles. Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have read the submission guidelines of the journal you are submitting to (BMC Genomics and BMC Genomic Data). Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp (BMC Genomics and BMC Genomic Data). During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Ancient DNA" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the standard peer-review process of the journal they are considered in (BMC Genomics and BMC Genomic Data) and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.