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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo

@mireniraorb.bsky.social
483 followers 450 following 47 posts

#Postdoc #aDNA #UNIL Personal website: researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/persons/m…

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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Science Magazine @science.org · 05/10/2026
Exclusive: A new analysis refutes James Watson’s claim that he was the first to recognize the significance of the famed photograph 51. scim.ag/4rTKck8
scim.ag
How did Rosalind Franklin miss the helix in her iconic DNA image? She didn’t
New analysis refutes James Watson’s claim he was first to recognize significance of famed photograph 51
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Summary translations are available in Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole (translated by Joseph Sony Jean), and soon in Guadeloupean Creole. If you speak another language from the Caribbean and would like to translate it, feel free to do so; we’d be happy to add it!🧬☺️
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
To read more on ethical sampling, see: Ethics in Caribbean Archaeology Past, Present, and Future, 2026 & Recommendations for Sustainable Ancient DNA Research in the Global South: Voices From a New Generation of Paleogenomicists, 2022.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
On sampling: Because aDNA sampling is destructive, we must report both successes&failures to build an honest regional picture. Sampling strategies should be co-designed directly with local communities and stakeholders to balance scientific goals with cultural responsibilities.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Target capture: For poorly preserved samples (<5% endogenous DNA), 1240k capture boosted targeted DNA recovery by ~600x. It’s an important tool to rescue poor-quality samples, though we need to watch out for biases when using this technology.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Visual screening works: Before destroying a sample, a simple visual inspection ("good" vs. "poor" macro-preservation) correctly predicted whether a sample would yield >1% endogenous DNA 76% of the time; a useful first filter!
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
DNA preservation between different sample types across different burial contexts. Human endogenous DNA content (%, displayed in log scale), theoretical DNA fragment length (1/λ, bp) and C→T misincorporations at 5′ read termini (MQ ≥ 30) by sample type. Pairwise comparisons with statistically significant differences (t-test; p < 0.01) are noted at the top.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Microenvironments & Geology: Caves and rock shelters protect DNA far better than open sites. Soil chemistry plays a massive role too: limestone settings preserve DNA significantly better than acidic volcanic soils.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Tissue selection: Petrous bones yielded the highest endogenous DNA (17.4% on average), followed by tooth cementum (1.2%). Spongy postcranial bones like ribs averaged just ~0.01% and are generally best avoided for genomic work.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Fast decay rates: DNA degrades ~4x faster in the Caribbean than in temperate North America, and ~14x faster than in subpolar settings. Finding aDNA older than ~5,000 years here will be tough.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
What we did: We tested how age, bone/tooth choice, and burial environments shape DNA preservation. By fitting decay models and comparing results with 1240k target capture, we built a baseline to guide future sampling and avoid unnecessary damage to remains. Here is what we found 👇
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Many of the challenges with tropical aDNA survival might be intuitive to people in the field, but there was a lack of a systematic study on the topic. To understand what drives DNA decay and how we can sample smarter, we looked at data from >300 human remains across 33 Caribbean sites (3,300–400BP)
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Happy to share our new paper on DNA preservation in the Caribbean: Open access: doi.org/10.1098/rsos... 🌎 Summaries in Español, Français, Kreyòl Ayisyen and Kréyòl Gwadloup: shorturl.at/FMHNI 🧵👇 @jazminrm.bsky.social @bitesizedna.bsky.social
doi.org
Ancient DNA preservation in the Caribbean
Abstract. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis has transformed how we study human migration, species dispersals and environmental change, but poor preservation rema
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Arev P. Sümer @arevsumer.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Our new study with @benmpeter.bsky.social is now on biorxiv! Here we present a new computational tool which makes it possible to conduct population genetic analyses from very contaminated and very low quality archaic human genomes. (1/7)
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
(Y|G)iannis P. @ipatramanis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
We have a new preprint out :D www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Did Denisovans inherit their AMBN gene from Homo erectus? We have released a short preprint trying to answer this question! @lauritsskov.bsky.social @fridowelker.bsky.social ~Summary below~
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Dilek Koptekin @dilekopter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Check out our new review: Ancient DNA in motion! We examine how the integration of archaeogenomic data with archaeological evidence can help reconstruct past human mobility and interactions, as well as their consequences, while also addressing key terminological and interpretive limitations.
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
SMBE IDEA taskforce @smbe-idea.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
🌍✨ SMBE IDEA 2027 – call for proposals! We have funding to support initiatives tackling inequalities in molecular biology and evolution. Check our websites for previously funded projects, funding details, and the application form: www.smbe.org/idea-initiat... 📅 Deadline: Oct 5, 2026
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Après le congrès, j’ai eu la chance de me rendre en Guadeloupe et d’échanger avec des archéologues, des professeurs d’histoire et des responsables du patrimoine de Saint-François. Merci pour votre accueil et pour toutes ces conversations enrichissantes!
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Gracias por la oportunidad de presentar nuestro trabajo sobre Anse à la Gourde en el #IACA y por acogernos tan bien en Santo Domingo. Fue un regalo conocer y aprender de tanta gente interesante.
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Hannah Moots @mootspoints.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
New paper (from my colleagues @cpgsthlm.bsky.social!) showing children in Viking-Age & Medieval Sweden were buried in gendered ways, but those buried together were rarely close biological relatives. A great example of how #AncientDNA sheds new light on childhood, kinship & social organization 🧬
science.org
Equal in death: Ancient genomic analysis of children’s early Christian burials
Ancient genomes challenge views of close kinship in multiple Christian burials, revealing flexible traditions around children.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
www.wwf.es?70840/Presen...
wwf.es
Presentamos un informe científico que evidencia el estado de conservación desfavorable del lobo
La población española de lobo aún no ha alcanzado el umbral que aseguraría su viabilidad ecológica y genética a largo plazo y, por tanto, la especie se encuentra en estado de conservación desfavorable
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Sad news from most regions in Spain: wolves may soon be easier to hunt again, despite science showing their conservation status is still unfavourable 🐺💔 www.publico.es/sociedad/m-a...
publico.es
La mayoría de las comunidades avalan el informe que permite la caza del lobo con el rechazo del Gobierno y Catalunya
El documento concluye que la población de este animal en España se encuentra en un estado de conservación favorable.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Brava Maria🥰
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
The stapes are the smallest bone in the human skeleton and seem to be the best to preserve DNA! Very interesting paper by Sağlıcan, Sevkar et al: genome.cshlp.org/content/earl...
genome.cshlp.org
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Marina Silva @marinasdsilva.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Our preprint is now out, looking at genomic history and selection in Britain, with a focus on the Roman and early medieval periods. Comments welcome! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @boothicus.bsky.social @leospeidel.bsky.social @pontus-skoglund.bsky.social
biorxiv.org
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Nico Rascovan @nrascovan.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
How did farming reach the Southern Andes? Through migration or cultural transmission? Our new paper in @nature.com combines ancient DNA, isotopes, archaeology & paleoclimate to reconstruct 2,000+ years of history in Uspallata, Mendoza. www.nature.com/articles/s41... A Thread🧵 (1/25+)
nature.com
Local agricultural transition, crisis and migration in the Southern Andes - Nature
In the Uspallata Valley, agriculture was adopted by local populations, as evidenced by genetic continuity from earlier&nbsp;hunter-gatherers to farmers; maize-dependent groups from the same regional p...
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
www.ivoox.com/en/gomolava-...
ivoox.com
Gomolava: una matanza selectiva en la Edad del Hierro (14/03/2026) - Principio de Incertidumbre - Podcast on iVoox
Listen to this episode of Principio de Incertidumbre for free on iVoox. En este capítulo exploramos la fosa común de Gomolava, en la actual Serbia, un enterramiento colectivo de hace unos 2.800 años q...
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Free online aDNA summer school🧬🌎 Learn new methods, train with amazing instructors, and meet students from around the world! #HAAM-community #aDNA #SummerSchool
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Reposted by Miren Iraeta Orbegozo
Andrew Curry @andrewcurry.com · 23/02/2026
When archaeologists found the bodies of 77 women and children in an Iron Age grave, they pinned it on a prehistoric plague outbreak. A new analysis reveals it was actually a mass execution. Most bizarre? @mireniraorb.bsky.social's look at their genes shows the victims weren't related. @science.org
science.org
Ancient mass grave in Serbia seen as a grisly show of power
Women and children were executed in an elaborate prehistoric ritual
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Taken together, the evidence points to gender- and age-biased mass violence; potentially aimed at fragmenting social networks and reshaping power structures in the Early Iron Age Carpathian Basin. Grateful to everyone involved, this was truly interdisciplinary collaboration at its best 👩‍🔬📚🥰
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🧬 Genetics ( @jazminrm.bsky.social, @bitesizedna.bsky.social, @hringbauer.bsky.social gbauer.bsky.social, D. Mylopotamitaki, myself & team): Ancient DNA revealed almost no close genetic relatedness among the individuals. IBD sharing shows that most were unrelated even beyond the second-cousin level.
gbauer.bsky.social
gbauer.bsky.social
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🌍 Isotopes (Jason Laffoon, Cheryl Makarewicz & team): Sr, C, and N isotopes revealed diverse childhood origins and foodways. 50–100 animals were also deposited in the grave. Analyses showed they grazed across different landscapes, reinforcing the idea of regional connections and diverse lifeways.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
⌛ Radiocarbon dating (Christopher Bronk Ramsey & colleagues): AMS dating placed the event in the mid-to-late 9th century BCE, aligning with broader archaeological evidence for regional upheaval and renewed settlement dynamics.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🔬 Histotaphonomy & bioerosion ( @boothicus.bsky.social ): CT-based analysis of bone microstructure showed high levels of bioerosion consistent with rapid burial after death. This suggests the killing occurred nearby and bodies were collected and interred shortly afterwards.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🦴 Osteology (Linda Fibiger): Skeletal analysis showed extensive peri-mortem trauma, mostly blunt-force injuries to the head. Women and children were heavily overrepresented, pointing to selective demographic targeting rather than battlefield casualties or disease.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🏺 Archaeological context (Barry Molloy & Jovan Koledin): Gomolava sits in the Carpathian Basin during a period of social change, mobility, and competing lifeways. The site reflects tensions between communities and ideologies of land use, explaining how large-scale targeted violence could emerge.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
We investigated one of Europe’s largest prehistoric single-event mass graves, combining osteology, isotopes, archaeogenetics, chronology, and archaeological context to understand who these people were and what happened to them. Illustrations by Sara Nylund.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Really excited to share our new paper on the Early Iron Age mass grave at Gomolava (9th c. BCE), a study I had the pleasure to work on during my PhD with an amazing group of co-authors across multiple disciplines. Open access link: www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵👇
nature.com
A large mass grave from the Early Iron Age indicates selective violence towards women and children in the Carpathian Basin - Nature Human Behaviour
In this analysis of biomolecular and archaeological data from a ninth-century BCE mass grave in the Carpathian Basin, Fibiger et al. find evidence for the targeted killing of mostly unrelated women an...
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Taken together, the evidence points to gender- and age-biased mass violence; potentially aimed at fragmenting social networks and reshaping power structures in the Early Iron Age Carpathian Basin. Grateful to everyone involved, this was truly interdisciplinary collaboration at its best 👩‍🔬📚🥰
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
IBD-based comparative analyses indicate the assemblage likely represents a broader population sample, similar to mass graves like Potočani (Croatia)&Asparn-Schletz (Austria), in contrast to the extended family structure observed at Koszyce. The demographic profile, however, is unique to Gomolava.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🧬 Genetics (@jazminrm.bsky.social, @bitesizedna.bsky.social, @hringbauer.bsky.social, D. Mylopotamitaki, myself & team): Ancient DNA revealed almost no close genetic relatedness among the individuals. IBD sharing shows that most were unrelated even beyond the second-cousin level.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🌍 Isotopes (Jason Laffoon, Cheryl Makarewicz & team): Sr, C, and N isotopes revealed diverse childhood origins and foodways. 50–100 animals were also deposited in the grave. Analyses showed they grazed across different landscapes, reinforcing the idea of regional connections and diverse lifeways.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
⌛ Radiocarbon dating (Christopher Bronk Ramsey & colleagues): AMS dating placed the event in the mid-to-late 9th century BCE, aligning with broader archaeological evidence for regional upheaval and renewed settlement dynamics.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🔬 Histotaphonomy & bioerosion (@boothicus.bsky.social): CT-based analysis of bone microstructure showed high levels of bioerosion consistent with rapid burial after death. This suggests the killing occurred nearby and bodies were collected and interred shortly afterwards.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🦴 Osteology (Linda Fibiger): Skeletal analysis showed extensive peri-mortem trauma, mostly blunt-force injuries to the head. Women and children were heavily overrepresented, pointing to selective demographic targeting rather than battlefield casualties or disease.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
🏺 Archaeological context (Barry Molloy & Jovan Koledin): Gomolava sits in the Carpathian Basin during a period of social change, mobility, and competing lifeways. The site reflects tensions between communities and ideologies of land use, explaining how large-scale targeted violence could emerge.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
We investigated one of Europe’s largest prehistoric single-event mass graves, combining osteology, isotopes, archaeogenetics, chronology, and archaeological context to understand who these people were and what happened to them.
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Is this going to be recorded? Or is there going to be an option to join online? Thanks!
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
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Miren Iraeta Orbegozo @mireniraorb.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
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