Matters Microbial #108: Neanderthal Oral Health, Ancient Bacteria and DNA September 19, 2025

Today, Dr. Laura Weyrich, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University,  joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the paleo oral microbiome! We will learn if our ancestors had the same kind of resident microbes as we do. In addition, we will learn about ancient DNA and what it can tell us.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Laura Weyrich

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Links for this episode

• An obituary for my late and much missed microbiologist friend, Dr. Kimberly Walker.
• A link to Episode #9 of #MattersMicrobial, with Sebastian Cocioba. 
• The ethics of collecting samples from deceased humans, both ancient and modern.
• An overview of the efforts to study ancient DNA.  Here is another review on that topic.
• The importance of proper controls for the study of low DNA abundance samples—the famous “kitome” often observed.  Here is an article by Dr. Weyrich and colleagues on this topic, as well.
• A recent article using human bones to detect Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. 
• An overview of the oral microbiome.
• An article describing how dental calculus can be used to recover ancient DNA.
• An article by Dr. Weyrich and colleagues describing the human oral microbiome pre and post Industrial Revolution in Great Britain.
• A video describing our Neanderthal ancestors.
• An article by Dr. Weyrich and colleagues describing the Neanderthal oral microbiome and related issues.
• A fine video by Dr. Weyrich describing her research program. Dr. Weyrich’s faculty website.
• Dr. Weyrich’s research team website (SO INTERESTING).

Intro music is by Reber Clark

Send your questions and comments to [email protected]