Paleomicrobiology Data: Authentification and Interpretation
Résumé
The authenticity of some of the very first works in the field of ă paleopathology has been questioned, and standards have been ă progressively established for the experiments and the interpretation of ă data. Whereas most problems initially arose from the contamination of ă ancient specimens with modern human DNA, the situation is different in ă the field of paleomicrobiology, in which the risk for contamination is ă well-known and adequately managed by any laboratory team with expertise ă in the routine diagnosis of modern-day infections. Indeed, the ă exploration of ancient microbiota and pathogens is best done by such ă laboratory teams, with research directed toward the discovery and ă implementation of new techniques and the interpretation of data.