title: Deep sequencing of RNA from ancient maize kernels.
abstract: The characterization of biomolecules from ancient samples can shed otherwise unobtainable insights into the past. Despite the fundamental role of transcriptomal change in evolution, the potential of ancient RNA remains unexploited - perhaps due to dogma associated with the fragility of RNA. We hypothesize that seeds offer a plausible refuge for long-term RNA survival, due to the fundamental role of RNA during seed germination. Using RNA-Seq on cDNA synthesized from nucleic acid extracts, we validate this hypothesis through demonstration of partial transcriptomal recovery from two sources of ancient maize kernels. The results suggest that ancient seed transcriptomics may offer a powerful new tool with which to study plant domestication.
authors: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Sarah L
authors: SL
authors: Fordyce
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: Ávila-Arcos
authors: Morten
authors: M
authors: Rasmussen
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Cappellini
authors: J Alberto
authors: JA
authors: Romero-Navarro
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Wales
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Alquezar-Planas
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Penfield
authors: Terence A
authors: TA
authors: Brown
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: JP
authors: Vielle-Calzada
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Montiel
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Jørgensen
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Odegaard
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Jacobs
authors: Bernardo
authors: B
authors: Arriaza
authors: Thomas F G
authors: TF
authors: Higham
authors: Christopher Bronk
authors: CB
authors: Ramsey
authors: Eske
authors: E
authors: Willerslev
authors: M Thomas P
authors: MT
authors: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018525:Germination / Q000235:genetics; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000379:methods*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors; D059467:Transcriptome; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018749:RNA, Plant