Paleogenomics of human remains in East Asia and Yaponesia focusing on current advances and future directions

Abstract

Ancient DNA analysis became paleogenomics once high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to ancient DNA sequencing. Paleogenomics based on whole-genome information from Neanderthals and Denisovans showed that small fragments of these genomes remain in the modern human genome, and corresponding studies of anatomical modern humans clarified the history of migration and expansion among Homo sapiens. Due to geographical and environmental conditions, paleogenomic studies have fallen behind in Eastern compared with Western Eurasia. Recently, however, various capture sequencing techniques, which can enrich ancient DNA, have been used in East Eurasia, and the field of paleogenomics has been further developed. This review briefly introduces the history of ancient DNA analysis leading to paleogenomics, outlines three sequencing stages (partial, draft, and complete genome sequencing) and capture methods, and discusses the necessity of high-quality sequencing for paleogenomes of Eastern Eurasia.