Genome family trees to map human DNA history
Inference and application of graphs for genomic data
This project builds user-friendly computer tools that use whole genomes to reconstruct ancestral DNA family trees for researchers working with modern and ancient human samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11336804 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you share your DNA or your genomic data with researchers, this project will use whole-genome sequencing to reconstruct detailed ancestral “family trees” of genomes called ancestral recombination graphs. The team will use Bayesian statistical methods to sample possible ancestral histories and quantify mutation, recombination, natural selection, and population movements over time. They aim to scale these methods to hundreds or thousands of genomes and will release an open-source, user-friendly program for other researchers to use. The methods will be applied to both modern and ancient DNA to trace migration, ancestry, and evolutionary patterns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have consented to whole-genome sequencing or are willing to provide DNA and ancestry/health information for research use.
Not a fit: People without genomic data, those seeking immediate clinical treatment, or those who do not agree to research use of their DNA are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help researchers better understand how genetic variation and ancestry influence disease risk and improve population-specific genetic insights.
How similar studies have performed: Previous methods have reconstructed ancestral graphs for smaller datasets, but scaling full-likelihood Bayesian approaches to hundreds or thousands of genomes is newer and more experimental.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nielsen, Rasmus — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Nielsen, Rasmus
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.