Origins and evolution of ancient Egyptian cotton tracked by palaeogenomics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Warwick HRI
Abstract
This study aims to answer several questions about cotton genome evolution and domestication utilizing remarkably preserved archaeobotanical samples from Qasr Ibrim in Egypt and Januária in Brazil. The new technology of palaeogenomics - the study of genomes in the past through direct observation of their ancient DNA (Poinar et al 2006) - enables these questions to be addressed in a completely new way. The aims are threefold: Firstly, to identify the cotton species present in ancient Egypt and Januária in order to evaluate archaeological hypotheses. This will be achieved through the species identification of archaeobotanical cotton - currently not possible through visual examination. Different species of cotton are associated with different cultural groups, so identification will lead to inferences about whhich cultures of the past influenced early cotton cultivation. Secondly, to add an extra dimension to the study of cotton genome evolution to address several hypotheses of genomic change over the past three thousand years. The whole genus of cotton has experienced genomic expansion, and there is some evidence that this process is ongoing. The paleogenomic approach will allow an assessment of the extent of change there has been over the past three thousand years. Thirdly, to establish the applicability of this new technology to the mummified archaeobotanical remains from Qasr Ibrim and Januária. There are large quantities of archaeobotanical material at these sites which could become an invaluable genetic resource for our understanding of the evolutionary changes that occurred during the domestication and cultivation processes.
People |
ORCID iD |
Robin Allaby (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Allaby RG
(2015)
Archaeogenomic insights into the adaptation of plants to the human environment: pushing plant-hominin co-evolution back to the Pliocene.
in Journal of human evolution
Allaby RG
(2015)
Using archaeogenomic and computational approaches to unravel the history of local adaptation in crops.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Gutaker RM
(2019)
Flax latitudinal adaptation at LuTFL1 altered architecture and promoted fiber production.
in Scientific reports
Palmer SA
(2012)
Archaeogenomic evidence of punctuated genome evolution in Gossypium.
in Molecular biology and evolution
Description | This project established the use of next generation sequencing with archaeological plant material, specifically in low latitudes. Low latitudes is of interest because they are typically of high temperature (relative to temperate and polar latitudes where most next generation sequencing application to ancient DNA has been made). Over a million DNA reads were obtained through the 454 platform from four different samples of cotton which were subject to a metagenomic analysis. The study showed that high quality information can be obtained, and provided insight into direct genome evolution, and as such is quite ground breaking. |
Exploitation Route | The work here provides the foundation for further NGS studies with plant material, which are already in progress. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Description | The work here was used to showcase to the public and scientists at the Royal Society how ancient DNA in crops helps us to understand evolution, and what is possible. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Muslin cotton resurrection collaboration |
Organisation | Drik (Bengal Muslin) |
Country | Bangladesh |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Using the techniques we have developed on the cotton, and later grants, we are sequencing cotton genomes from herbaria specimens. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collection of herbarium samples from Bangladesh, field trial samples from Bangladesh, |
Impact | This is an exciting collaboration that comes out directly as a result of the cotton grant. Muslin cotton was thought to have gone extinct 160 years ago, the last samples being held in herbaria in Kolkata and Kew Gardens. Modern 'muslin' is made with other cotton species now, but it is not as fine as the original, examples of which are housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. True muslin cotton cannot be machine manipulated because of differences in the fibre morphology, hence a whole industry was lost during the industrialization process, despite genuine demand. The CEO of Drik (Saif Islam) has done a huge amount of background research and brought together a team, including Warwick and the Bangladesh Cotton Development Board. Wild growing populations have been identified in Bangladesh which could be the original muslin cotton. We are currently sequencing the genomes of these samples grown in field trials, along with other cotton species and the last known muslin cottons from herbaria to establish the identity of this newly discovered cotton. If it is established that this is the true muslin cotton, then the team is in a position to resurrect an entire industry. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | BANEA (British Association Near Eastern Archaeology), Glasgow, 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk to archaeologists about how archaeogenomic research can be used to understand archaeological processes. Drew on several grant funded studies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Garnett conference, Cambridge, 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at the Garnett plant science conference, theme on natural variation and its utilization. Described how archaeogenomic research can be applied to understand how variation changes over time. Drew on several grant funded studies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | World Archaeology Conference, Kyoto, Japan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Actually several talks at the WAC conference and an invited seminar at Kobe University, talking about how archaeogenomics helps us understand the evolution of domestication. Drew on several grant funded studies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |