The 5,000 Ancient Human Genomes Project has successfully reconstructed an unprecedented dataset using the analysis of bones and teeth. This extensive genetic archive, established through collaboration with museums and universities across Europe and western Asia, spans various historical periods from the Mesolithic and Neolithic to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Viking period, and Middle Ages. Employing Illumina technology, the project aimed to sequence 1,000 ancient human genomes from Eurasia to create a precision tool for researching brain disorders.
Initiated in 2018 by three University of Copenhagen professors, Eske Willerslev, Thomas Werge, and Rasmus Nielsen, the project received a five-year, DKK 60 million (approximately EUR 8 million) research grant from the Lundbeck Foundation. The oldest genome in the dataset, dating back approximately 34,000 years, reflects the project’s commitment to exploring the genetic evolutionary history of brain disorders. Originally focused on neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, as well as mental disorders like ADHD and schizophrenia, the project aimed to enhance medical and biological understanding by comparing ancient DNA profiles with data from various scientific disciplines.
The Lundbeck Foundation, recognizing the groundbreaking potential of the project, supported it in alignment with their focus on gaining deeper insights into the genetic architecture underlying brain disorders. The project’s coordination is carried out at the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Center, established at the University of Copenhagen. The foundation is also involved in supporting the iPYSCH consortium, a global initiative studying the genetic and environmental causes of mental disorders, emphasizing the precise profiling of genetic risks for conditions such as autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
