[Music] this is a TEDx event about generations
this is a TEDx event about generations
this is a TEDx event about generations and we’ve heard several generations thus
and we’ve heard several generations thus
and we’ve heard several generations thus far we’ve heard Generation X Generation
far we’ve heard Generation X Generation
far we’ve heard Generation X Generation Y generation Z I’m taking you back a few
Y generation Z I’m taking you back a few
Y generation Z I’m taking you back a few more generations to the Year 1492 to be
more generations to the Year 1492 to be
more generations to the Year 1492 to be precise if you paid attention in history
precise if you paid attention in history
precise if you paid attention in history class you may remember this year because
class you may remember this year because
class you may remember this year because this is the year that Christopher
this is the year that Christopher
this is the year that Christopher Columbus set out from Cadiz and silt
Columbus set out from Cadiz and silt
Columbus set out from Cadiz and silt into the unknown worlds of the West he
into the unknown worlds of the West he
into the unknown worlds of the West he arrived on island that he called
arrived on island that he called
arrived on island that he called Hispaniola nowadays we know this island
Hispaniola nowadays we know this island
Hispaniola nowadays we know this island as the Dominican Republic in Haiti now
as the Dominican Republic in Haiti now
as the Dominican Republic in Haiti now for the rest of this talk I want you to
for the rest of this talk I want you to
for the rest of this talk I want you to imagine that you were living on this
imagine that you were living on this
imagine that you were living on this island when he arrived you were running
island when he arrived you were running
island when he arrived you were running barefoot the weather was always nice Sun
barefoot the weather was always nice Sun
barefoot the weather was always nice Sun out good temperatures and you’ve never
out good temperatures and you’ve never
out good temperatures and you’ve never seen a European guy before now
seen a European guy before now
seen a European guy before now everything that we 21st century
everything that we 21st century
everything that we 21st century scientists know about you 15th century
scientists know about you 15th century
scientists know about you 15th century Hispaniola ins is what this guy brought
Hispaniola ins is what this guy brought
Hispaniola ins is what this guy brought back obviously you had a life before him
back obviously you had a life before him
back obviously you had a life before him but everything what we know from your
but everything what we know from your
but everything what we know from your life before him is still what he brought
life before him is still what he brought
life before him is still what he brought back and we as 21st century scientists
back and we as 21st century scientists
back and we as 21st century scientists were interested in your life what were
were interested in your life what were
were interested in your life what were you eating were you healthy were you
you eating were you healthy were you
you eating were you healthy were you sick did you brush your teeth that’s why
sick did you brush your teeth that’s why
sick did you brush your teeth that’s why in 2013 professor Hoffman started the
in 2013 professor Hoffman started the
in 2013 professor Hoffman started the Nexus 1492 project to find out exactly
Nexus 1492 project to find out exactly
Nexus 1492 project to find out exactly how your life looked like how your
how your life looked like how your
how your life looked like how your surroundings look like and as science
surroundings look like and as science
surroundings look like and as science starts digging we usually find more than
starts digging we usually find more than
starts digging we usually find more than we expect and in our case that was
we expect and in our case that was
we expect and in our case that was ancient DNA you may wonder DNA in the
ancient DNA you may wonder DNA in the
ancient DNA you may wonder DNA in the Caribbean what’s the big deal well DNA
Caribbean what’s the big deal well DNA
Caribbean what’s the big deal well DNA is like ice cream
is like ice cream
is like ice cream it degrades about a hundred and fifty
it degrades about a hundred and fifty
it degrades about a hundred and fifty times faster in warm environments than
times faster in warm environments than
times faster in warm environments than in cooler environments that’s why the
in cooler environments that’s why the
in cooler environments that’s why the oldest found DNA is from a seven hundred
oldest found DNA is from a seven hundred
oldest found DNA is from a seven hundred thousand year old horse bone which is
thousand year old horse bone which is
thousand year old horse bone which is retrieved from permafrost it’s very cold
retrieved from permafrost it’s very cold
retrieved from permafrost it’s very cold but we were interested in your life in
but we were interested in your life in
but we were interested in your life in the Caribbean so we needed to look for
the Caribbean so we needed to look for
the Caribbean so we needed to look for other material other methods other
other material other methods other
other material other methods other options with the same protective effect
options with the same protective effect
options with the same protective effect as permafrost and we found that we found
as permafrost and we found that we found
as permafrost and we found that we found that in material that was previously
that in material that was previously
that in material that was previously seen as junk museum curators even
seen as junk museum curators even
seen as junk museum curators even removed it from teeth because it didn’t
removed it from teeth because it didn’t
removed it from teeth because it didn’t look pretty and this material is known
look pretty and this material is known
look pretty and this material is known as dental calculus its mineralized
as dental calculus its mineralized
as dental calculus its mineralized dental plaque and it’s also the white
dental plaque and it’s also the white
dental plaque and it’s also the white gooey stuff that the dentist’s removed
gooey stuff that the dentist’s removed
gooey stuff that the dentist’s removed from your teeth so now that we found DNA
from your teeth so now that we found DNA
from your teeth so now that we found DNA it made my job as a scientist a lot
it made my job as a scientist a lot
it made my job as a scientist a lot easier because you know that DNA allows
easier because you know that DNA allows
easier because you know that DNA allows us to unravel the stories of the past
us to unravel the stories of the past
us to unravel the stories of the past but before I elaborate on the white
but before I elaborate on the white
but before I elaborate on the white gooey stuff I first want to tell you how
gooey stuff I first want to tell you how
gooey stuff I first want to tell you how we got to finding DNA in dental calculus
we got to finding DNA in dental calculus
we got to finding DNA in dental calculus perhaps you remember that new methods
perhaps you remember that new methods
perhaps you remember that new methods were developed to translate the human
were developed to translate the human
were developed to translate the human genome and once the human genome was
genome and once the human genome was
genome and once the human genome was translated scientists were wondering
translated scientists were wondering
translated scientists were wondering what else can we do with these methods
what else can we do with these methods
what else can we do with these methods and they randomly sampled different
and they randomly sampled different
and they randomly sampled different sides of the human body they sampled the
sides of the human body they sampled the
sides of the human body they sampled the skin they sampled the gut
skin they sampled the gut
skin they sampled the gut they also sampled the oral cavity and
they also sampled the oral cavity and
they also sampled the oral cavity and they found DNA all of these sites we
they found DNA all of these sites we
they found DNA all of these sites we were wondering can we also apply this to
were wondering can we also apply this to
were wondering can we also apply this to archaeological material but what is left
archaeological material but what is left
archaeological material but what is left of you 15th century is brilliance it is
of you 15th century is brilliance it is
of you 15th century is brilliance it is not your skin it’s not your gut but it
not your skin it’s not your gut but it
not your skin it’s not your gut but it is your dental calculus so we first
is your dental calculus so we first
is your dental calculus so we first tested these methods on material that
tested these methods on material that
tested these methods on material that was from twelfth century German monks
was from twelfth century German monks
was from twelfth century German monks and we found DNA surprisingly much so
and we found DNA surprisingly much so
and we found DNA surprisingly much so but this was Germany Germany kind of has
but this was Germany Germany kind of has
but this was Germany Germany kind of has the same weather as we have here kind of
the same weather as we have here kind of
the same weather as we have here kind of chilly
chilly
chilly rating most of the days
rating most of the days
rating most of the days and we were wondering would these
and we were wondering would these
and we were wondering would these methods also work in a warmer
methods also work in a warmer
methods also work in a warmer environment so we set out to the
environment so we set out to the
environment so we set out to the Caribbean we went to the Dominican
Caribbean we went to the Dominican
Caribbean we went to the Dominican Republic to one loop and to Puerto Rico
Republic to one loop and to Puerto Rico
Republic to one loop and to Puerto Rico and we got dental calculus from all of
and we got dental calculus from all of
and we got dental calculus from all of these places we applied these methods
these places we applied these methods
these places we applied these methods and we found DNA we found surprisingly
and we found DNA we found surprisingly
and we found DNA we found surprisingly much DNA about 64 times more DNA than
much DNA about 64 times more DNA than
much DNA about 64 times more DNA than what we generally find usually when we
what we generally find usually when we
what we generally find usually when we get DNA from bones or teeth it is
get DNA from bones or teeth it is
get DNA from bones or teeth it is undetectable in the Caribbean so dental
undetectable in the Caribbean so dental
undetectable in the Caribbean so dental calculus opens up doors into warmer
calculus opens up doors into warmer
calculus opens up doors into warmer worlds speaking of worlds did you know
worlds speaking of worlds did you know
worlds speaking of worlds did you know that we have an entire world inside our
that we have an entire world inside our
that we have an entire world inside our body I’m not talking about the bones and
body I’m not talking about the bones and
body I’m not talking about the bones and blood and tissue that make up our body
blood and tissue that make up our body
blood and tissue that make up our body I’m interested in inhabitants of this
I’m interested in inhabitants of this
I’m interested in inhabitants of this very small world the microorganisms all
very small world the microorganisms all
very small world the microorganisms all of the microorganisms in our body we
of the microorganisms in our body we
of the microorganisms in our body we call our microbiome and our microbiome
call our microbiome and our microbiome
call our microbiome and our microbiome helps us survive it helps us with
helps us survive it helps us with
helps us survive it helps us with everyday life functions like digestion
everyday life functions like digestion
everyday life functions like digestion vitamin production nutrient acquisition
vitamin production nutrient acquisition
vitamin production nutrient acquisition and the dental calculus of our 21st
and the dental calculus of our 21st
and the dental calculus of our 21st century dental calculus looks a lot like
century dental calculus looks a lot like
century dental calculus looks a lot like the oral microbiome but how about your
the oral microbiome but how about your
the oral microbiome but how about your 15th century dental calculus it looks
15th century dental calculus it looks
15th century dental calculus it looks surprisingly much so like our 21st
surprisingly much so like our 21st
surprisingly much so like our 21st century dental calculus we see a lot of
century dental calculus we see a lot of
century dental calculus we see a lot of oral Associated bacteria in dental
oral Associated bacteria in dental
oral Associated bacteria in dental calculus from 50 century Caribbean this
calculus from 50 century Caribbean this
calculus from 50 century Caribbean this comparability allows us to track changes
comparability allows us to track changes
comparability allows us to track changes in the oral microbiome over time but
in the oral microbiome over time but
in the oral microbiome over time but that’s not all we found I first want to
that’s not all we found I first want to
that’s not all we found I first want to have a closer look into the specific
have a closer look into the specific
have a closer look into the specific bacteria that we saw in the oral
bacteria that we saw in the oral
bacteria that we saw in the oral Associated community we found several
Associated community we found several
Associated community we found several bacteria that can cause disease because
bacteria that can cause disease because
bacteria that can cause disease because you know that oral bacteria can cause
you know that oral bacteria can cause
you know that oral bacteria can cause periodontal disease gingivitis
periodontal disease gingivitis
periodontal disease gingivitis periodontitis especially these three
periodontitis especially these three
periodontitis especially these three bastard
bastard
bastard and we found all three of them in our
and we found all three of them in our
and we found all three of them in our Caribbean 15th century individuals
Caribbean 15th century individuals
Caribbean 15th century individuals indicating that although the soft issue
indicating that although the soft issue
indicating that although the soft issue is gone we can still using ancient DNA
is gone we can still using ancient DNA
is gone we can still using ancient DNA from dental calculus offer insight in
from dental calculus offer insight in
from dental calculus offer insight in the soft tissue diseases so that we now
the soft tissue diseases so that we now
the soft tissue diseases so that we now know that these people were suffering
know that these people were suffering
know that these people were suffering from periodontal disease another finding
from periodontal disease another finding
from periodontal disease another finding we unexpectedly found it is we have
we unexpectedly found it is we have
we unexpectedly found it is we have found antibiotic resistance genes and
found antibiotic resistance genes and
found antibiotic resistance genes and remember we’re still in 1492 when
remember we’re still in 1492 when
remember we’re still in 1492 when antibiotics were not yet introduced how
antibiotics were not yet introduced how
antibiotics were not yet introduced how is this possible you may wonder well
is this possible you may wonder well
is this possible you may wonder well antibiotics are a naturally occurring
antibiotics are a naturally occurring
antibiotics are a naturally occurring product that bacteria use as a defense
product that bacteria use as a defense
product that bacteria use as a defense mechanism against other bacteria as some
mechanism against other bacteria as some
mechanism against other bacteria as some bacteria using their antibiotic
bacteria using their antibiotic
bacteria using their antibiotic resistance genes have found a way to
resistance genes have found a way to
resistance genes have found a way to combat this defense mechanism and this
combat this defense mechanism and this
combat this defense mechanism and this is important because antibiotic
is important because antibiotic
is important because antibiotic resistance is going to be the number one
resistance is going to be the number one
resistance is going to be the number one cause of death in about 20 years I just
cause of death in about 20 years I just
cause of death in about 20 years I just read the paper this morning
read the paper this morning
read the paper this morning haarlem’s dot blots and in the paper
haarlem’s dot blots and in the paper
haarlem’s dot blots and in the paper this morning it’s said that in 2025 if
this morning it’s said that in 2025 if
this morning it’s said that in 2025 if we don’t act 50,000 people will die of
we don’t act 50,000 people will die of
we don’t act 50,000 people will die of bacterial infection in the European
bacterial infection in the European
bacterial infection in the European Union alone every year
Union alone every year
Union alone every year so understanding the development of
so understanding the development of
so understanding the development of antibiotic resistance and the rise of
antibiotic resistance and the rise of
antibiotic resistance and the rise of antibiotic resistance is essential in
antibiotic resistance is essential in
antibiotic resistance is essential in our capability to manage our health in
our capability to manage our health in
our capability to manage our health in the future
the future
the future we also found violence genes and
we also found violence genes and
we also found violence genes and virulence means the ability to infect or
virulence means the ability to infect or
virulence means the ability to infect or damage since we fought these genes we
damage since we fought these genes we
damage since we fought these genes we can track whether certain bacteria
can track whether certain bacteria
can track whether certain bacteria became more or less infectious over time
became more or less infectious over time
became more or less infectious over time so dental calculus allows us to get a
so dental calculus allows us to get a
so dental calculus allows us to get a glimpse into our life before the
glimpse into our life before the
glimpse into our life before the Industrial Revolution when our lives
Industrial Revolution when our lives
Industrial Revolution when our lives were more were less hygienic our diets
were more were less hygienic our diets
were more were less hygienic our diets were more diverse and antibiotics were
were more diverse and antibiotics were
were more diverse and antibiotics were not yet introduced even more promising
not yet introduced even more promising
not yet introduced even more promising is that we can get
is that we can get
is that we can get human DNA from dental calculus right now
human DNA from dental calculus right now
human DNA from dental calculus right now we’re looking into whether someone was
we’re looking into whether someone was
we’re looking into whether someone was male or female but in the future it may
male or female but in the future it may
male or female but in the future it may become possible to look at the more
become possible to look at the more
become possible to look at the more worrisome problems like human genomic
worrisome problems like human genomic
worrisome problems like human genomic diseases such as autoimmune diseases and
diseases such as autoimmune diseases and
diseases such as autoimmune diseases and cancer to summarize this is not just
cancer to summarize this is not just
cancer to summarize this is not just exciting for me as a scientist but it’s
exciting for me as a scientist but it’s
exciting for me as a scientist but it’s exciting for you because last time I
exciting for you because last time I
exciting for you because last time I checked we’re not from the colder
checked we’re not from the colder
checked we’re not from the colder regions of this earth we’re out of
regions of this earth we’re out of
regions of this earth we’re out of Africa so dental calculus opens up doors
Africa so dental calculus opens up doors
Africa so dental calculus opens up doors to research into older and warmer worlds
to research into older and warmer worlds
to research into older and warmer worlds but it also opens up doors into research
but it also opens up doors into research
but it also opens up doors into research to prevent disease in the future so if
to prevent disease in the future so if
to prevent disease in the future so if you want to contribute to science for
you want to contribute to science for
you want to contribute to science for the next generation please do not brush
the next generation please do not brush
the next generation please do not brush your teeth
”
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