RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A new model for ancient DNA decay based on paleogenomic meta-analysis JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 109140 DO 10.1101/109140 A1 Logan Kistler A1 Roselyn Ware A1 Oliver Smith A1 Matthew Collins A1 Robin G. Allaby YR 2017 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/02/16/109140.abstract AB The persistence of DNA over archaeological and paleontological timescales in diverse environments has led to revolutionary body of paleogenomic research, yet the dynamics of DNA degradation are still poorly understood. We analyzed 185 paleogenomic datasets and compared DNA survival with environmental variables and sample ages. We find cytosine deamination follows a conventional thermal age model, but we find no correlation between DNA fragmentation and sample age over the timespans analyzed, even when controlling for environmental variables. We propose a model for ancient DNA decay wherein fragmentation rapidly reaches a threshold, then subsequently slows. The observed loss of DNA over time is likely due to a bulk diffusion process, highlighting the importance of tissues and environments creating effectively closed systems for DNA preservation.