Ancient Biomolecular Lab (AbLab)

 
The ancient biomolecular lab (AbLab) at the American Museum of Natural History is a space dedicated to the study of historic DNA (hDNA), ancient DNA (aDNA), and ancient proteins (paleoproteomics) from museum collections. 

What is the AbLab?

The abLab is a state-of-the-art, National Science Foundation-funded facility designed to train and assist researchers interested in working with ancient and historic biomolecular data. 

Analyzing museum specimens for genetic data, more generally referred to as museomics, can provide unique insights into how animals, plants, and other organisms lived anywhere from a couple hundred to several thousand years ago. 

The facility opened in Fall 2022, and is a positive pressure lab space that follows strict decontamination guidelines to prevent human and bacterial contamination that are often barriers when attempting to extract biomolecules from historic or ancient bone, teeth, toe pads, eggshell, plant remains, etc. The construction of this multi-user space serves as the only lab of its kind in New York City and one of two museum-based, multi-user degraded biomolecular labs in North America.

There is no facilities use fee and we provide access to multiple types of equipment and consumable materials for our users. These materials are available to view after the Contact Form is completed. Please note that we're not setup as paid-for service facility and the applicant or designee is required to be onsite to use the facility.

Request Access to the AbLab 

Research Project Request Form »

Training Request Form »

 

View the AbLab Facilities

Two lab users put on masks to prepare to enter the AbLab.
Lab users (Lauren Clark and RJ Millena) putting on masks, hairnets, and gloves in the ancient biomolecular anteroom prior to entering the lab space where DNA and protein extractions occur.
M. Shanley/© AMNH
Researchers wear protective suits and masks and put on gloves to prepare to enter the abLab.
When researchers enter the ancient biomolecular lab space, they must don a Tyvex suit and second pair of gloves to prevent human and bacterial contamination to their sample.
M. Shanley/© AMNH
Researchers inside the abLab wear protective gear and weigh specimens on a scale.
It is important to document the weight of each sample and clean thoroughly between the extraction of sample whether it be bone, tooth, feather, eggshell, etc.
M. Shanley/© AMNH
Researchers wearing protective gear places specimens into a table-top oven.
Samples for DNA extraction, submerged in a lysis buffer, are placed in an oven in which they'll be heated and rotated for several hours to lyse the cellular and nuclear membranes.
M. Shanley/© AMNH
Two researchers wearing protective gear inside the abLab place a specimen in a vortexer.
Researchers mix samples by vortexing, or using a machine that vigorously vibrates the solution within a tube.
M. Shanley/© AMNH
Researcher inside the abLab places a specimen inside a centrifuge.
The process of DNA extraction consists of multiple washes completed in a centrifuge seen in this photo. After the completion of these washes, a final DNA extract is produced.
M. Shanley/© AMNH

Staff 

Directors 

  • Cheryl Hayashi Provost of Science, Curator, and Leon Hess Director of Comparative Biology Research 
  • Scott Schaefer Dean of Science for Collections, Curator, and Director, Institute of Comparative Genomics 

Administrative 

  • Melina Giakoumis, Associate Director, Institute for Comparative Genomics
  • Mohammad Faiz, Assistant Director of Operations, Institute for Comparative Genomics
  • Seth Cunningham, Research Assistant, Ancient Biomolecules Laboratories, Institute for Comparative Genomics