Decoding the biological information contained in two ancient Slavonic parchment codices: an added historical value.

ABSTRACT: This study provides an example in the emerging field of biocodicology showing how metagenomics can help answer relevant questions that may contribute to a better understanding of the history of ancient manuscripts. To this end, two Slavonic codices dating from the 11th century were investigated through shotgun metagenomics. Endogenous DNA enabled to infer the animal origin of the skins used in the manufacture of the two codices, while nucleic sequences recovered from viruses were investigated for the first time in this material, opening up new possibilities in the field of biocodicology. In addition, the microbiomes colonizing the surface of the parchments served to determine their conservation status and their latent risk of deterioration. The saline environment provided by the parchments

SUBMITTER: Pinar G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7687136 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature