Ancient DNA (aDNA) studies in molecular anthropology and contamination problem

Sub-discipline of molecular anthropology developed in correlation with molecular biology, sheds light on prehistoric journey the modern human. Molecular anthropology studies began in 1900s, and it is quite common and has become a major area of work with the completion of the human genome project in 2003. Since 1985, molecular anthropology?s study material especially consist of (Polymerase Chain Reaction) PCR?s with discovery of DNA, mitocondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y chromosome molecules. In general, studies in this area is called ancient DNA (aDNA) work. Molecular biological methods used to obtain again in the studies of molecules methods. However, there are many challenges to obtain DNA from old materials, and the most important of these challenges is the problem of `contamination?. Since middle of the 1980s, many studies have been published to overcome the problems which are face in this area. In this thesis, the chronological development of molecular anthropology with DNA molecules that used in this field to succeed with developed methods and techniques, in particularly, contamination, the encountered problems analyzed in these studies.Key words: Molecular Anthropology, aDNA, Contamination