After a long process, the work of Dr. Emrah Kırdök (an academic at Mersin University) in which I was one of the coauthors has finally been published in Scientific Reports, a journal published as part of Nature Portfolio. According to their website, Scientific Reports is the 5th most-cited journal in the world, based on the report by Clarivate Analytics.
In this work we used bioinformatic, statistical, and machine learning tools to interpret the metagenomic DNA extracted from an archeological chewing-gum. The topic is very attractive, so many news outlets pubished it around the world. Google showed me almost 40 articles pubished in Türkiye, USA, Spain, Italy, India, Peru, Mexico, France, Romania, Iran, and China. Of course, there are press releases in the homepages of Stockholm University and Mersin University. Stockholm University even published it in English, not only in Swedish.
According to Altmetric, the paper is in the top 5% of all research optput ever tracked by them.
Emrah did a post-doc with me some years ago, when we started using metagenomic tools to analyze the bacterial part of ancient DNA. At that time most people worked on the human part of aDNA. We had a work presented in Barcelona (International Conference of Systems Biology) and then Emrah spent two months with Macha Nikolski, one of my collaborators at that time, where he got updated in machine learning methods. Then he moved to Stockholm, working with Dr. Anders Götherström and his team.
It is nice to see the name of out department, and our University, shown around the world. The paper is freely available following this link: Metagenomic analysis of Mesolithic chewed pitch reveals poor oral health among stone age individuals.
Press notes
10,000-Year-Old Chewing Gum Reveals Stone Age Teenagers’ Diet. (2024, January 19). IFLScience. https://www.iflscience.com/10000-year-old-chewing-gum-reveals-stone-age-diet-and-poor-oral-health-72530
Ancient ‘chewing gum’ reveals stone age diet. (2024, January 19). ScienceDaily. Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240118122104.htm
Ancient Chewing Gum Reveals Stone Age Diet. (2024, January 19). Lab Manager. Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.labmanager.com/ancient-chewing-gum-reveals-stone-age-diet-31663
Bello, A.-R. O. (2024, January 20). Stone Age bites: Chewing gum uncovers ancient dietary habits. https://interestingengineering.com/culture/stone-age-bites-chewing-gum-uncovers-ancient-dietary-habits
Chewed Birch Pitch May Reflect Hunter-Gatherers’ Dental Health—Archaeology Magazine. (2024, January 19). Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.archaeology.org/news/12066-240119-mesolithic-birch-pitch
Chewing gum from 10,000 years ago reveals Stone Age diet. (2024, January 20). https://observatorial.com/news/technology-and-science/666861/chewing-gum-from-10000-years-ago-reveals-stone-age-diet/
ClassiCult. (2024, January 18). Ancient chewing gum reveals Mesolithic diet in Scandinavia. Classicult. https://www.classicult.it/en/ancient-chewing-gum-reveals-mesolithic-diet-in-scandinavia/
DNA From 10,000-Year-Old Scandinavian Chewing Gum Reveals Stone Age Diet—Ancient Pages. (2024, January 19). https://www.ancientpages.com/2024/01/19/dna-scandinavian-chewing-gum-stone-age-diet/
DNA from Stone Age chewing gum sheds light on diet and disease in Scandinavia’s ancient hunter-gatherers. (2024, January 19). Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/2781221-dna-from-stone-age-chewing-gum-sheds-light-on-diet-and-disease-in-scandinavias-ancient-hunter-gatherers
DNA From Stone Age Chewing Gum Sheds Light On Diet And Disease In Scandinavia’s Ancient Hunter-Gatherers. (2024, January 20). https://www.ambroseehirim.com/2024/01/dna-from-stone-age-chewing-gum-sheds.html
haleplusadmin. (2024, January 18). Ancient ‘chewing gum’ reveals stone age diet. Hale Plus Hearty. https://haleplushearty.org/2024/01/18/ancient-chewing-gum-reveals-stone-age-diet/
Mesolithic chewing gum reveals ancient diet and dental woes. (2024, January 18). New Atlas. https://newatlas.com/science/mesolithic-chewing-gum-ancient-diet-dental/
RD, S. C. (2024, January 20). 10,000-year-old chewing gum covered in DNA reveals Stone Age secrets. Study Finds. https://studyfinds.org/10000-year-old-chewing-gum/
Reports, S. (2024, January 18). DNA From Ancient Gum Reveals Secrets of Stone Age Dentistry. SciTechDaily. https://scitechdaily.com/dna-from-ancient-gum-reveals-secrets-of-stone-age-dentistry/
Stockholm University
Larsson, P. (2024, January 19). Ancient chewing gum reveals stone age diet—Stockholm University. Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.su.se/english/news/ancient-chewing-gum-reveals-stone-age-diet-1.707433
Larsson, P. (2024, January 19). Tuggummi avslöjar vad stenåldersmänniskor åt—Stockholms universitet. Retrieved 19 January 2024, from https://www.su.se/nyheter/tuggummi-avsl%C3%B6jar-vad-sten%C3%A5ldersm%C3%A4nniskor-%C3%A5t-1.707445
Mersin University
- News—Fen Fakültesi Öğretim Elemanımız Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Emrah Kırdök’ün Koordinesindeki Ekip Taş Devrinden Kalma Sakızdan Elde Edilen DNA’dan Dönemin Hastalıklarına ve Beslenme Şekillerine Işık Tutuyor. (2024, January 19). Mersin Üniversitesi. Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.mersin.edu.tr/haberler/381658/fen-fakultesi-ogretim-elemanimiz-dr-ogr-uyesi-emrah-kirdokun-koordinesindeki-ekip-tas-devrinden-kalma-sakizdan-elde-edilen-dnadan-donemin-hastaliklarina-ve-beslenme-sekillerine-isik-tutuyor
Türkiye
Taş Devri ısırıkları: Sakız çiğnemek eski beslenme alışkanlıklarını ortaya çıkarıyor. (2024, January 20). Çeviri Haber. https://cevirihaber.com.tr/20240120/tas-devri-isiriklari-sakiz-cignemek-eski-beslenme-aliskanliklarini-ortaya-cikariyor
Hürriyet: 10 bin yıllık sakızın sırrı. (2024, January 21). https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/10-bin-yillik-sakizin-sirri-42393480
USA
USANews.net. (2024, January 19). 10,000-year-old chewing gum reveals Stone Age diet. Https://Www.Usanews.Net/. Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.usanews.net/breaking/10000-year-old-chewing-gum-reveals-stone-age-diet-h127367.html
Microsoft News. What Stone Age humans ate over 10,000 years ago revealed in new study. (2024, January 19). Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/what-stone-age-humans-ate-over-10000-years-ago-revealed-in-new-study/ar-AA1nbVY0
What Stone Age humans ate over 10,000 years ago revealed in new study. (2024, January 19). Earth.Com. Retrieved 23 January 2024, from https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-diet-deer-and-trout-were-on-the-menu-10000-years-ago/
American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2024, January 19). Genetics: Chewing over poor Mesolithic oral health. EurekAlert! Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1031237
Spain
20minutos. (2024, January 18). Chicles de hace 10.000 años revelan la dieta de un grupo de cazadores de la Edad de Piedra. <www.20minutos.es> - Últimas Noticias. https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5210461/0/chicles-hace-10-000-anos-revelan-dieta-edad-piedra/
Debate, E. (2024, January 18). Los secretos que revelan unos chicles de hace 10.000 años hallados en Escandinavia. El Debate. https://www.eldebate.com/ciencia/20240118/chicles-hace-10000-anos-hallados-escandinavia-revelan-como-dieta-quienes-mascaban_168183.html
Los restos de ‘chicles’ de hace 10.000 años desvelan hábitos alimenticios de la Edad de Piedra. (2024, January 18). Fuentes Informadas. https://fuentesinformadas.com/los-restos-de-chicles-de-hace-10-000-anos-desvelan-habitos-alimenticios-de-la-edad-de-piedra
Press, E. (2024, January 18). Chicles de hace 10.000 años revelan la dieta de la Edad de Piedra. Europa Press. https://www.europapress.es/ciencia/ruinas-y-fosiles/noticia-chicles-hace-10000-anos-revelan-dieta-edad-piedra-20240118172454.html
Un ‘chicle’ antiguo revela enfermedades dentales en la Edad de Piedra. (2024, January 18). La Vanguardia. https://www.lavanguardia.com/sociedad/20240118/9500974/chicle-antiguo-revela-enfermedades-dentales-edad-piedra-agenciaslv20240118.html
Un chicle de hace 10.000 años revela la dieta de la Edad de Piedra. (2024, January 19). La Vanguardia. https://www.lavanguardia.com/comer/al-dia/20240119/9501415/chicle-10-000-anos-revela-dieta-edad-piedra.html
Italy
- Bruccoleri, L. (2024, January 22). Un nuovo studio rivela cosa mangiavano gli esseri umani dell’età della pietra oltre 10.000 anni fa » Scienze Notizie. Scienze Notizie. https://www.scienzenotizie.it/2024/01/22/un-nuovo-studio-rivela-cosa-mangiavano-gli-esseri-umani-delleta-della-pietra-oltre-10-000-anni-fa-0178468
India
- Bureau, T. H. (2024, January 20). What did people on the west coast of Scandinavia eat 10,000 years ago? The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/what-did-people-on-the-west-coast-of-scandinavia-eat-10000-years-ago/article67756783.ece
Peru
- ‘Chicles’ de hace 10 mil años revelan la dieta del ser humano en la Edad de Piedra. (2024, January 19). Panamericana Televisión. Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://panamericana.pe/internacionales/401625-chicles-10-mil-anos-revelan-dieta-humano-edad-piedra
Colombia
- “Chicles” de hace 10.000 años revelan la dieta y la salud bucal en la Edad de Piedra. (2024, January 20). ELESPECTADOR.COM. https://www.elespectador.com/ciencia/chicles-de-hace-10000-anos-revelan-la-dieta-y-la-salud-bucal-en-la-edad-de-piedra/
Mexico
La Jornada: Chicles de hace 10 mil años revelan la dieta de la Edad de Piedra. (2024, January 19). https://www.jornada.com.mx/2024/01/19/ciencias/a06n1cie
Press, E. (2024b, January 21). Chicles de hace 10 mil años revelan la dieta del ser humano en la Edad de Piedra. La Unión de Morelos. https://www.launion.com.mx/blogs/ciencia/noticias/242863-chicles-de-hace-10-mil-anos-revelan-la-dieta-del-ser-humano-en-la-edad-de-piedra.html
France
- Un ancien « chewing-gum » révèle un régime alimentaire de l’âge de pierre. (2024, January 18). Citizenside. https://www.citizenside.fr/ancien-chewing-gum-revele-regime-alimentaire-lage-pierre/
Romania
- Žvakaća guma stara 10.000 godina otkriva tajne ishrane kamenog doba: Evo šta su jeli tinejdžeri. (2024, January 20). Nauka Telegraf. https://nauka.telegraf.rs/arheo-istorija/3821686-zvakaca-guma-stara-10000-godina-otkriva-tajne-ishrane-kamenog-doba-evo-sta-su-jeli-tinejdzeri
Iran
- آدامس ۱۰ هزار ساله اسرار عصر حجر را فاش کرد. (2024, January 21). صاحبخبر; صاحبخبران - جدیدترین و آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان. http://sahebkhabar.ir/news/64742694/آدامس-۱۰-هزار-ساله-اسرار-عصر-حجر-را-فاش-کرد
China
- 科学新知｜1万年前”口香糖”揭示古人糟糕的口腔健康_澎湃号·政务_澎湃新闻-The Paper. (2024, January 19). Retrieved 21 January 2024, from https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26083035
Greece
- Γυρνάμε πίσω το χρόνο κατά 9.700 χρόνια στη δυτική ακτή της Σκανδιναβίας και βλέπουμε τις συνήθειες για την στοματική υγεία. (2024, February 2) https://www.healthstat.gr/meletes/27776/ta-mystika-mias-tsixlas-i-stomatiki-ygeia-sti-lithini-epoxi