The ideal training for future researchers in Europe, draws together
leading research teams in world, state-of-the-art methods and a
clearly focused, important and emotive question with widespread
repercussions and integrates them using sophisticated tools and
training devices; welcome to the training network, LeCHE. This large
(15 researcher, 24 participant) Europen training network explores the origin
and impact of dairying Europe. The participating researchers will drawn on the latest
genetic studies of modern humans and domestic animals to identify
markers of specific traits, but will also travel back in time and
search for these in ancient remains. The trait of Lactase Persistence
is under extreme positive selection in humans, but ancient DNA
analyses reveals that it is absent in the first Neolithic farmers.
Drinking raw milk has been very good for you for over 7,000 years!
Modern phylogeographic patterning suggests that a high degree of
co-evolution of humans and domesticates. We will use sophisticated
chemical and isotopic geochemical analyses of artefacts and bones,
combined with traditional archaeology to obtain direct evidence of
milk consumption and explore husbandry practices. All this data will
be integrated into a large database. Mathematical modelling of gene
flow and selection in Neolithic populations, constrained by
archaeological data, will be used to develop hypotheses which can be
tested against modern distribution of genetic diversity and ancient
remains. Each student will have their own research project, but they
will be encouraged to think and work as a team, by network activities,
including a sophisticated set of Web 2.0 tools for communication,
summer schools and their co-authorship of a book, the latter to teach
them writing, editing and team-working skills.
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