Doubts on ancient bone ?microbiota? studies: A comment on Kazarina et al. (2019)

A recent publication evaluates microbial genome sequences from DNA isolated from ancient bones and compares these DNA sequences to those found in the surrounding soil. Although we need to be aware of environmental contamination when carrying out paleomicrobiological analyses, we should also realize that some samples do not contain their own microbiota and thus any microbial sequences observed can only come from the surrounding environment.

Automated summary

This recent publication evaluates microbial genome sequences from DNA isolated from ancient bones and compares them with those found in the surrounding soil. It discusses the importance of considering environmental contamination in paleomicrobiological analyses and highlights the fact that some samples do not contain their own microbiota, resulting in microbial sequences only from the surrounding environment.