DENNIS H O'ROURKE

its dennis

Contact Info

Biography —

Dennis O'Rourke (KU – PhD in Anthropology, emphasis in genetics) - Foundation Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kansas, Director of the KU ancient DNA Laboratory, Associate Director of the Laboratories of Biological Anthropology, and Professor Emeritus University of Utah. My research focuses on the use of molecular genetic methods to address long-standing questions in prehistory. My students and collaborators have conducted fieldwork and research projects in Mexico, the Caribbean, the US Southwest and California, and the North American arctic. Most recently, my group has focused attention on ancient DNA methods to investigate the colonization and dispersal of the North American arctic, and how this informs us about the earlier initial colonization of the Western Hemisphere. Utilizing genomic analyses of both human and archaeofaunal and archaeobotanical materials, my research interests and efforts increasingly are at the intersection of anthropological genetics, bioarchaeology, and paleoecology.

Selected Publications —

Scott, G., Hoffecker, J., Elias, S., O'Rourke, D., Scott, G., Bigelow, N. (2016). Beringia and the global dispersal of modern humans. Evolutionary Anthropology - Issue 2 | Volume 25. https://doi.org/10.1002/EVAN.21478.
Bustamante, C., Crawford, M., O'Rourke, D., Hayes, M., Cornejo, O., Nielsen, R., Brenner-Coltrain, J., Raghavan, M., Degiorgio, M., Albrechtsen, A., Moltke, I., Moltke, I., Skoglund, P., Skoglund, P., Korneliussen, T., Grønnow, B., Grønnow, B., Appelt, M., Appelt, M., Gulløv, H., Gulløv, H., Friesen, T., Friesen, T., Fitzhugh, W., Fitzhugh, W., Malmström, H., Rasmussen, S., Olsen, J., Olsen, J., Melchior, L., Melchior, L., Fuller, B., Fuller, B., Fahrni, S., Fahrni, S., Stafford, T., Stafford, T., Grimes, V., Grimes, V., Renouf, M., Renouf, M. (2014). The genetic prehistory of the New World Arctic. Science - Issue 6200 | Volume 345. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.1255832.
Hoffecker, J., Elias, S., O'Rourke, D. (2014). Out of Beringia?. Science - Issue 6174 | Volume 343. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.1250768.
Broughton, J., Beck, R., Brenner-Coltrain, J., O'Rourke, D., Rogers, A. (2013). A Late Holocene Population Bottleneck in California Tule Elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes): Provisional Support from Ancient DNA. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory - Issue 3 | Volume 20. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10816-012-9167-Y.
O'Rourke, D. (2012). Why do we migrate? A retrospective. Causes and Consequences of Human Migration. Cambridge Univ Pr. [9781107012868].
O'Rourke, D. (2012). Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective. Blackwell Pub. [9780470179642].
Enk, J., O'Rourke, D., O'Rourke, D. (2012). Genetics, Geography, and Human Variation. Human Biology. Blackwell Pub. [9780470179642].
Raff, J., Bolnick, D., Tackney, J., O'Rourke, D. (2011). Ancient DNA perspectives on American colonization and population history. American Journal of Physical Anthropology - Issue 4 | Volume 146. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21594.
O'Rourke, D. (2011). Contradictions and Concordances in American Colonization Models. Evolution/ Education and Outreach - Issue 2 | Volume 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12052-011-0336-3.
Enk, J., Devault, A., Debruyne, R., King, C., Treangen, T., O'Rourke, D., Salzberg, S., Fisher, D., Macphee, R., Poinar, H. (2011). Complete Columbian mammoth mitogenome suggests interbreeding with woolly mammoths. Genome Biology - Issue 5 | Volume 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/gb-2011-12-5-r51.
Raff, J., Tackney, J., O'Rourke, D. (2010). South from Alaska: A Pilot aDNA Study of Genetic History on the Alaska Peninsula and the Eastern Aleutians. Human Biology - Issue 5-6 | Volume 82. https://doi.org/10.1353/HUB.2010.A408136.
O'Rourke, D., West, D., Crawford, M. (2010). Unangan Past and Present: The Contrasts Between Observed and Inferred Histories. Human Biology - Issue 5-6 | Volume 82. https://doi.org/10.1353/HUB.2010.A408145.
O'Rourke, D., Raff, J. (2010). The Human Genetic History of the Americas: The Final Frontier. Current Biology - Issue 4 | Volume 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2009.11.051.
Scott, G., O'Rourke, D., Kari, J., Potter, B. (2010). Genes across Beringia: A Physical Anthropological Perspective on the Dené-Yeniseian Hypothesis. J. Kari, B. Potter (Eds.). Anthropological Papers of the University of Alaska (New Series). Special Issue: The Dené-Yeniseian Hypothesis.
Smith, S., Hayes, M., Cabana, G., Huff, C., Brenner-Coltrain, J., O'Rourke, D. (2009). Inferring Population Continuity Versus Replacement with aDNA: A Cautionary Tale from the Aleutian Islands. Human Biology - Issue 4 | Volume 81. https://doi.org/10.3378/027.081.0402.
O'Rourke, D. (2009). Human Migrations: The Two Roads Taken. Current Biology - Issue 5 | Volume 19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2009.01.021.
Enk, J., Yesner, D., Crossen, K., Veltre, D., O'Rourke, D. (2009). Phylogeographic analysis of the mid-Holocene Mammoth from Qagnaxˆ Cave, St. Paul Island, Alaska. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology - Issue 1-2 | Volume 273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.12.019.
Goebel, T., Waters, M., O'Rourke, D. (2008). The Late Pleistocene Dispersal of Modern Humans in the Americas. Science - Issue 5869 | Volume 319. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1153569.
Marchani, E., Rogers, A., O'Rourke, D. (2007). The Thule expansion: Rejecting population histories using mtDNA data and computer simulation. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 2 | Volume 134.
O'Rourke, D., Crawford, M. (2007). Ancient DNA and its application to reconstruction of human evolution and population history. M.H. Crawford (Eds.). Anthropological Genetics: Theory, Methods & Applications. Cambridge University Press.
Coltrain, J., Hayes, M., O'Rourke, D. (2006). A Radiometric Evaluation of Hrdlicka’s Aleutian Replacement Hypothesis: Population Continuity and Morphological Change. Current Anthropology - Issue 3 | Volume 47.
O'Rourke, D., Ubelaker, D. (2006). Classical marker variation in Native North Americans. D. Ubelaker (Eds.). Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 3, Environment, Origins and Population. Smithsonian Institution.
O'Rourke, D., Brenner-Coltrain, J., Hayes, M. (2005). Molecular Archaeology of the Dorset, Thule, and Sadlermiut: Ancestor-Descendant Relationships in Eastern North American Arctic Prehistory. Contributions to the Study of the Dorset-Palaeo Eskimos. Canadian Mus of Civilization. [9780660194141].
O'Rourke, D., Hayes, M., Carlyle, S., Turner, T. (2005). The Consent Process and aDNA Research: Contrasting Approaches in Northern North America. T. Turner (Eds.). Biological Anthropology and Ethics. State University of New York Press.
O'Rourke, D., Brenner-Coltrain, J., Hayes, M., O'Rourke, D. (2004). Sealing, whaling and caribou: the skeletal isotope chemistry of Eastern Arctic foragers. Journal of Archaeological Science - Issue 1 | Volume 31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2003.06.003.
O'Rourke, D. (2003). Anthropological Genetics in the Genomic Era: A Look Back and Ahead. American Anthropologist - Issue 1 | Volume 105.
Hayes, M., Coltrain, J., O'Rourke, D., Lynnerup, N., Andreasen, C., Berglund, J. (2003). Mitochondrial analyses of Dorset, Thule, Sadlermiut, and Aleut skeletal samples from the prehistoric North American Arctic. N. Lynnerup, C. Andreasen, J. Berglund (Eds.). Mummies in a New Millenium. Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Mummy Studies. Danish Polar Center.
O'Rourke, D., Hayes, M., Carlyle, S. (2000). Spatial and Temporal Stability of mtDNA Haplogroup Frequencies in Native North America. Human Biology - Issue 1 | Volume 72.
Carlyle, S., Parr, R., Hayes, M., O'Rourke, D. (2000). The Context of Maternal Lineages in the Greater Southwest. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 1 | Volume 113.
Stinson, S., Bogin, B., Huss-Ashmore, R., O'Rourke, D., . (2000). Human Biology: An Evolutionary & Biocultural Perspective. Wiley-Liss, Inc.
O'Rourke, D., Parr, R., Carlyle, S., Hemphill, B., Larsen, C. (1999). Molecular genetic variation in prehistoric inhabitants of the Eastern Great Basin. B.E. Hemphill, C.S. Larsen (Eds.). Understanding Prehistoric Lifeways in the Great Basin Wetlands: Bioarchaeological Reconstruction and Interpretation.
Parr, R., O'Rourke, D., Carlyle, S. (1996). Ancient DNA analysis of Fremont Amerindians of the Great Salt Lake Wetlands. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 4 | Volume 99.
O'Rourke, D., Carlyle, S., Parr, R. (1996). Ancient DNA: A review of methods, progress, and perspectives. Amer. J. Hum. Biol. - Issue 5 | Volume 8.
Suarez, B., Hampe, C., O'Rourke, D., Van Eerdewegh, P., Reich, T. (1995). Sib-based detection of QTLs. Genetic Epidemiology - Issue 6 | Volume 12.
Bamshad, M., Crawford, M., O'Rourke, D., Jorde, L. (1994). Biochemical heterozygosity and morphologic variation in a colony of Papio hamadryas hamadryas baboons. Evolution - Issue 4 | Volume 48.
O'Rourke, D., Mobarry, A., Suarez, B. (1992). Patterns of genetic variation in Native America. Human Biology - Issue 3 | Volume 64.
Shearin, N., King, E., O'Rourke, D. (1989). DNA preservation in Precolumbian remains from the American Southwest. Human Evolution - Issue 4 | Volume 4.
O'Rourke, D., Lichty, A. (1989). Spatial analysis and gene frequency maps of native North American populations. Collegium Antropologicum - Issue 1 | Volume 13.
Crawford, M., Devor, E., O'Rourke, D., Yakovleva, L., Voevodin, A., Lapin, B. (1987). Genetics of primate lymphomas in a baboon (Papio hamadryas) colony of Sukhumi, U.S.S.R. Genetica - Volume 73.
Mccullough, J., O'Rourke, D. (1986). Geographical distribution of consanguinity in Europe. Ann. Hum. Biol. - Issue 4 | Volume 13.
O'Rourke, D., Suarez, B. (1986). Patterns and correlates of genetic variation in South Amerindians. Ann. Hum. Biol. - Issue 1 | Volume 13.
Suarez, B., O'Rourke, D., Crouse, J. (1985). Genetic variation in North Amerindian populations: Association with sociocultural complexity. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 3 | Volume 67.
O'Rourke, D., Suarez, B., Crouse, J. (1985). Genetic variation in North Amerindian populations: Covariance with climate. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 3 | Volume 67.
Suarez, B., Crouse, J., O'Rourke, D. (1985). Genetic variation in North Amerindian populations: The geography of gene frequencies. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 3 | Volume 67.
Crawford, M., O'Rourke, D., Dykes, D., Lapin, B., Polesky, H. (1984). Inbreeding, heterozygosity and lymphoma risk among the baboons (Papio hamadryas) of Sukhumi, U.S.S.R. Amer. J. Primat. - Volume 6.
O'Rourke, D., Baume, R., Mielke, J., Crawford, M., Crawford, M. (1984). Dental variation in Black Carib populations. M.H. Crawford (Eds.). Current Developments in Anthropological Genetics, Vol. 3. Black Caribs: A Case Study in Biocultural Adaptation, Chapter 10. (pp. 169-187). Plenum.
O'Rourke, D., Mcguffin, P., Reich, T. (1983). The genetics of manic-depressive illness. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 1 | Volume 62.
O'Rourke, D., Petersen, G., Johnston, F., . (1983). Genetics, Evolution and Disease. Alan R. Liss, Inc.
Rice, J., Gottesman, I., Suarez, B., O'Rourke, D., Reich, T. (1982). Ascertainment bias for non-twin relatives in twin proband studies. Hum. Hered. - Volume 32.
Suarez, B., O'Rourke, D., Van Eerdewegh, P. (1982). Power of the affected sib pair method to detect disease susceptibility loci of small effect: An application to multiple sclerosis. Amer. J. Med. Genet. - Volume 12.
O'Rourke, D., Gottesman, I., Suarez, B., Rice, J., Reich, T. (1982). Refutation of the general single locus model for the etiology of schizophrenia. Amer. J. Hum. Genet. - Issue 4 | Volume 34.
O'Rourke, D., Bach Enciso, V., Crawford, M., Mielke, J. (1982). Primate social organization, ecology and genetic variation. M.H. Crawford, J.H. Mielke (Eds.). Current Developments in Anthropological Genetics, Vol. 2. Ecology and Population Structure, Ch. 1. (pp. 1-28). Plenum.
O'Rourke, D., Crawford, M. (1980). Odontometric microdifferentiation of transplanted Mexican Indian populations: Cuanalan and Saltillo. Amer. J. Phys. Anthrop. - Issue 3 | Volume 52.
O'Rourke, D., Crawford, M., Crawford, M. (1976). Odontometric analysis of four Tlaxcaltecan communities. M.H. Crawford (Eds.). The Tlaxcaltecans: Prehistory, Demography, Morphology and Genetics, Chapter 9. (pp. 81-92). KU Printing Service.