biostudies-literaturePedersen MWGerman Research FoundationCarlsberg FoundationGordon and Betty Moore FoundationWellcome TrustNovo Nordisk FondenLundbeck FoundationNational Science Foundation2728-2736.e8https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7617452biostudies-literatureUnknown31(12)Analysis of ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized our ability to describe biological communities in space and time,^1-3 by allowing for parallel sequencing of DNA from all trophic levels.^4-8 However, because environmental samples contain sparse and fragmented data from multiple individuals, and often contain closely related species,⁹ the field of ancient eDNA has so far been limited to organellar genomes in its contribution to population and phylogenetic studies.⁵^,⁶^,¹⁰^,¹¹ This is in contrast to data from fossils¹²^,¹³ where full-genome studies are routine, despite these being rare and their destruction for sequencing undesirable.<sup>14-Current biology : CBEnvironmental genomics of Late Pleistocene black bears and giant short-faced bears.PMC7617452207492/Z/17/ZWT207492207492R155-2013-16338WT220023NNF18SA0035006220023214300/Z/18/ZR302-2018-2155Heintzman PDSikora MPedersen MWZazula GShapiro BSaremi NFVardanyan ZMacPhee RDEGu ZVinner LCahill JAWillerslev EArdelean CFPuckett EEKapp JDDe Sanctis BMoon KLArroyo-Cabrales JDurbin RfalseEnvironmental genomics of Late Pleistocene black bears and giant short-faced bears.Analysis of ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized our ability to describe biological communities in space and time,^1-3 by allowing for parallel sequencing of DNA from all trophic levels.^4-8 However, because environmental samples contain sparse and fragmented data from multiple individuals, and often contain closely related species,⁹ the field of ancient eDNA has so far been limited to organellar genomes in its contribution to population and phylogenetic studies.⁵^,⁶^,¹⁰^,¹¹ This is in contrast to data from fossils¹²^,¹³ where full-genome studies are routine, despite these being rare and their destruction for sequencing undesirable.<sup>14-2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jun2026-06-01T19:22:50.168Z2025-04-07T05:00:03.187ZS-EPMC76174523387830110.1016/j.cub.2021.04.027