Call for papers - Paleogenomic methods for reconstructing evolutionary histories

Guest Editors

Diyendo Massilani, PhD, Yale University, USA
Danijela Popović, PhD, University of Warsaw, Poland

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 14 December 2025

BMC Methods is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Paleogenomic methods for reconstructing evolutionary histories." This Collection aims to explore innovative approaches in ancient DNA analysis, genomic sequencing, and phylogenetic methods that enhance our understanding of extinct and extant species. Submissions may include studies on genetic reconstruction, the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity, and the evolutionary relationships among ancient organisms.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Diyendo Massilani, PhD, Yale University, USA

Diyendo Massilani, PhD, began his scientific career studying the chemical composition of local medicinal herbs at the University of Health Sciences in Gabon, under the mentorship of Prof Blandine Akendengué, earning a Technical Degree in Medical Sciences in 2007. He then pursued higher education at Sorbonne University in Paris, obtaining a Bachelor of Life Sciences in 2010, followed by a Master of Molecular and Cellular Biology specializing in Genetics in 2012. His fascination with studying evolution through ancient DNA led him to pursue a PhD at the Jacques Monod Institute's Epigenomics and Palaeogenomics lab. Under the supervision of Dr Eva-Maria Geigl and Dr Thierry Grange, he refined ancient DNA extraction and Next Generation Sequencing methods, focusing on Bovids Evolution and Cattle Domestication, and earned his PhD in Genomics from Paris Cité University in 2016. In 2017, Diyendo Massilani joined the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, to research archaic and early modern human populations with Dr Matthias Meyer and Prof Svante Pääbo. He also developed techniques for retrieving ancient DNA from sediment using localized sampling of resin-impregnated sediment blocks. Diyendo became an Assistant Professor at Yale's Department of Genetics in July 2022 and an affiliate faculty member in Yale’s Department of Anthropology in January 2024. His lab at Yale School of Medicine investigates the evolutionary history of human populations through ancient DNA, focusing on peopling, human health history, and adaptations to environments and lifestyles.

Danijela Popović, PhD, University of Warsaw, Poland

Danijela Popović, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Paleogenetics and Conservation Genetics, Centre of New Technologies at the University of Warsaw, Poland. Her main research interest is the use of ancient DNA to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene mammals in Eurasia. She is also interested in human paleogenomics.

About the Collection

The field of paleogenomics is a crucial approach to understanding the evolutionary histories of organisms through the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA). By utilizing techniques such as genomic sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS), researchers can extract and analyze genetic material from extinct and extant species, shedding light on their evolutionary relationships.

Advancements in paleogenomic methods have transformed our capacity to explore evolutionary history, yielding insights that were previously unattainable. The development of sophisticated DNA extraction techniques and improved sequencing technologies has enabled the recovery of aDNA from increasingly degraded samples. Furthermore, innovative phylogenetic analyses allow for the reconstruction of genetic relationships among extinct species and their living relatives, offering a more nuanced understanding of evolutionary histories and migration. These advances not only enhance our knowledge of biodiversity and extinction but also inform conservation efforts for endangered species.

Future research in paleogenomics has the potential of revealing deeper insights into the evolutionary past. This Collection aims to showcase a variety of methodologies and applications within the realm of paleogenomics, and topics of interest include:

Applications of ancient DNA in evolutionary studies
Next-generation sequencing techniques for paleogenomics
Methods for contamination control, primer design, bioinformatics, and metabarcoding
Phylogenetic methods in reconstructing evolutionary relationships
Genetic reconstruction of extinct species
Computational and statistical methods in population genetics

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Methodology and Protocol Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Paleogenomic methods for reconstructing evolutionary histories" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.