Objective
The study of ancient human DNA has been revolutionary in identifying large-scale admixtures and genetic variants subject to natural selection. Yet, key knowledge gaps persist. First, ongoing genetic mixing within spatially continuous populations is poorly understood. Second, the underlying selective pressures, particularly of infectious diseases, remain debated. To bridge both gaps, I propose sequencing 500 victims of the Black Death, one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, from a site in Central Europe and using this data synergistically with novel computational tools to make two breakthroughs.
My first objective is to pioneer linking a large number of ancient and modern genomes through shared long haplotypes (known as IBD segments). IBD-sharing with modern genomes across Europe will reveal, for the first time, how genetic ancestry spread across space, starting from a large sample of a singular position and time. New inference tools using IBD-sharing will offer unprecedented insights into the European population structure of recent centuries, including mobility and effective population densities, and address a critical lack of population genetic models for spatially continuous populations.
The second objective is to pinpoint genetic variants relevant to Black Death mortality. Observing the removal of alleles, for the first time in molecularly confirmed plague mass graves, will directly link an infectious disease and the resulting natural selection. The findings will decisively resolve long-standing debates regarding the human selective impact of the Black Death.
Both IBD-sharing with modern Europeans and selection screens will greatly benefit from the large sample size of Medieval genomes. The synergy between the new analysis and tools I propose will break new ground for two key topics in population genetics relevant beyond humans, inferring the structure of continuous populations and the impact of natural selection.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology pandemics
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.