But the impact of ancient DNA, which has revolutionized archaeology in Europe and higher latitudes, has been more limited in tropical areas because DNA degrades more easily in warm conditions. However, recent advances in ancient DNA technology are expanding its reach, she said. And suddenly, we now have the ability to do these large-scale genomic studies and apply ancient DNA as a tool to help us understand the past in Mesoamerica,” Warinner said. The team compared the ancient DNA with that of 68 residents of the present-day Maya community of Tixcacaltuyub. “They were super happy to learn that they were related to the people that once inhabited Chichén Itzá,” Barquera said.

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Persons: ”, Rodrigo Barquera, Max Planck, “, El, Chichén Itzá, Donald Miralle, Rubén Mendoza, wasn’t, Christina Warinner, John L, Loeb, “ We’re, ” Warinner, Vera Tiesler, Tiesler, Johannes Krause, Warinner, It’s, ” Barquera, Ermila Organizations: CNN, Max, Max Planck Institute, California State University, telltale, Social Sciences, Harvard University, Evolutionary, Boys, Autonomous University of Yucatán, ” Twins, Twins Locations: Chichén, Mexico’s Yucatán, archaeogenetics, Leipzig, Germany, El Castillo, Monterey Bay, Europe, Itzá, Tixcacaltuyub