Mario Novak

Effects of ancestry, agriculture, and lactase persistence on the stature of prehistoric Europeans

The paper integrates ancient genomic and phenotypic data to analyze stature in prehistoric Europeans, finding that lactase persistence alleles positively affect stature in ancient populations but not in modern ones.

Reconstructing life history of the 18th century priest from Prozorje, Croatia: bioarchaeological and biochemical approaches

This study uses stable isotope analysis of dentine to reconstruct the dietary changes and life history of an 18th-century priest from Croatia, linking them to seminary admission timing.

The Genetic Origin of the Indo-Europeans

This paper uses ancient DNA data to trace the genetic origins of the Yamnaya culture and links their expansion to the spread of Indo-European languages.

Improved detection of methylation in ancient DNA

The paper presents a method to directly measure methylation in ancient DNA, showing it is cost-effective and applicable to a wide range of samples.

Bioarchaeological Perspectives on Late Antiquity in Dalmatia: Paleogenetic, Dietary, and Population Studies of the Hvar Radosevic burial site

The paper analyzes the Hvar Radosevic burial site to study ancestry, diet, and health of Late Antique Dalmatian populations, finding genetic diversity, a plant-based diet, and signs of poor health.

Stable population structure in Europe since the Iron Age, despite high mobility

This study analyzes ancient DNA from 204 individuals to show stable population structure in Europe despite high mobility during the historical period.

Social and genetic diversity in first farmers of central Europe

This study analyzes ancient DNA from LBK Neolithic sites to show genetic differences between eastern and western LBK populations, with evidence of patrilocality and no evidence of male-biased WHG admixture.

An integrative skeletal and paleogenomic analysis of prehistoric stature variation suggests relatively reduced health for early European farmers

This study integrates skeletal and paleogenomic data from ancient Europeans to show that early farmers were shorter than expected based on genetic scores, suggesting poorer health.

Genes Affecting Vocal and Facial Anatomy Went Through Extensive Regulatory Divergence in Modern Humans

The paper identifies extensive methylation changes in genes related to facial and vocal anatomy in modern humans compared to ancient humans and chimpanzees.

The Genomic Formation of South and Central Asia

The paper uses ancient DNA data to trace the genetic origins and spread of Indo-European languages in South and Central Asia.

The Arrival of Steppe and Iranian Related Ancestry in the Islands of the Western Mediterranean

The paper analyzes ancient DNA from the Balearic Islands, Sicily, and Sardinia to trace the arrival and spread of Steppe and Iranian-related ancestries in the western Mediterranean, revealing complex admixture histories.

Ancient genomes document multiple waves of migration in Southeast Asian prehistory

The paper analyzes ancient DNA from Southeast Asia to show multiple waves of migration, including an initial spread of Austroasiatic languages and a later influx linked to Bronze Age populations.

The Genomic History Of Southeastern Europe

Ancient DNA from 223 people (12,000-500 BCE) reveals a west-east hunter-gatherer cline, largely unadmixed farmers, Caucasus-shifted Aegean farmers, and Balkan steppe ancestry almost 2,000 years early.

The Identification of a 1916 Irish Rebel: New Approach for Estimating Relatedness From Low Coverage Homozygous Genomes

The paper identifies Thomas Kent's remains using a forced homozygote approach to estimate relatedness from degraded DNA, confirming his identity through simulated data.

The genetic structure of the world’s first farmers

This study analyzes ancient DNA from 44 Near Easterners to trace genetic changes from hunter-gatherers to farmers and their spread across regions.

Eight thousand years of natural selection in Europe

This study uses ancient DNA to identify genetic selection signatures in European populations over 8,000 years, finding loci related to diet, pigmentation, immunity, and height.

Tracing the genetic origin of Europe’s first farmers reveals insights into their social organization

The paper analyzes genetic data from Mesolithic and Neolithic sites to trace the origin and spread of early farming in Europe, revealing genetic continuity and patterns of patrilineal descent.