Unlocking ancient molecular vaults via deep-time palaeoproteomics of High Arctic fossils
Navn på bevillingshaver
Ryan Paterson
Titel
Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution
Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Japan
Beløb
DKK 2,662,937
År
2025
Bevillingstype
Internationalisation Fellowships
Hvad?
This project aims to extract ancient proteins from High Arctic fossils. By analyzing these proteins, we hope to extend genetic sequencing beyond a few million years, providing new insights into the evolution of mammals, particularly their explosive radiations following the demise of the dinosaurs, and the biodiversity of Arctic ecosystems over the last 50 million years.
Hvorfor?
DNA does not survive well over geological timescales, limiting our understanding of ancient life. Proteins, however, can endure much longer. By studying these ancient proteins, we can uncover evolutionary processes over tens of millions of years, offering a deeper understanding of how life adapted to extreme environments and changing climates.
Hvordan?
I will collect fossil samples from permafrost sites in Greenland, Canada, and Svalbard. Using advanced proteomics techniques, I will analyze highly-mineralized tissues from fossil mammals and marine microorganisms, to reconstruct ancient ecosystems, trace evolutionary histories, and model past climate scenarios, providing a comprehensive view of Arctic biodiversity across deep-time.