Scientific results:

- A set of archaeological human bone samples dating back to 1000-2000 years, including 12 intact bone samples, was collected. The age of the samples was measured by the excavation team using the radioactive isotope carbon 14 and published in a specialized journal.

- All five major linguistic families in Vietnam were collected for reference and the construction of an STR database. We chose the populations based on their major distributions and population sizes. In this study, we successfully published three papers in specialized international journals for population genetic studies of the Mong, Ede, and TuDi populations. These datasets provide allelic frequencies for further forensic purposes as well as the STR database for reference and their relationship with other populations in the region.

- Three different extraction protocols were tested to evaluate and optimize the extraction process for archaeological bone samples from Vietnam. In particular, extraction using the Dabney method has proven to be effective for heavily degraded and long-standing bone samples. The study successfully extracted DNA from the collected archaeological bone samples, confirming the presence of DNA by Sanger sequencing of the mitochondrial gene region. The obtained sequence was qualified, and sequence analysis did not match the DNA profiles of the person performing the analysis.

- The mitochondrial genomes of two Dong Xa bone samples, K1B10 and K1B08, dating back approximately 2000 years, were successfully sequenced. The obtained mitochondrial sequence was similar in length to the reference rCRS sequence of 16.5 kb. Sequence analysis determined the haplogroup of the two samples and the close genetic relationship between these two samples and the mitochondrial sequences of the human population living in Southeast Asia and other archaeological human populations in this region. This is the first genetic characterization of an archaeological bone sample group from the Dong Xa site, Hung Yen.

- Beyon the mitochondrial genome sequences of Dong Xa samples, we expanded our approach to other samples aged around six thousand years that belong to the Da But period in Vietnamese history. Our significant results indicated a rare haplogroup present in history, but absent from modern populations in Vietnam.

Applied results:

The project evaluated and developed a DNA extraction process from old heavily decomposed archaeological bone samples. The process allows the recovery of broken DNA fragments, which are small in size under 100 bp and at low concentrations. The obtained DNA can be used for high-throughput sequencing and other extended studies. This study has laid the basic foundation for future archaeological genetic studies in Vietnam.

- This is the first study to evaluate the ability to recover DNA from archaeological human bone samples, serving the study of human population genetics in Vietnam. Although Vietnam has a divert and complex history, genetic studies on archaeological bone samples are still limited and encounter many difficulties due to poor quality samples and severe decomposition due to unfavorable environmental conditions. The development, application of new scientific advances and evaluation on Vietnamese samples are extremely necessary to provide accurate genetic evidence for the study of the history of human populations living in Vietnam. Therefore, from the initial successes of the project, it is necessary to continue to expand and implement more in-depth studies in the future. 

- The project successfully sequenced two bone samples at the Dong Xa archaeological site. This is a large archaeological site, excavated and studied by a group of domestic and foreign scientists, showing the unique cultural characteristics of this site as well as its historical significance. However, for the first time, human bone samples here have been extracted and sequenced to explore genetic relationships with other populations. The results of the project provide important scientific evidence for previous archaeological studies at this site.

- Scientific papers 

o Tran, H. L., Mai, H. P., Le Thi, D., Thi, N. D., Le Tung, L., Thanh, T. P., Manh, H. T., Mau, H. N., Chu, H. H., & Hoang, H. (2023). The first maternal genetic study of hunter-gatherers from Vietnam. Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG, 298(5), 1225–1235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-023-02050-0 (SCIE, IF3.2, Q3)

o Dung Pham, P., Luc Hoang, T., Tra Le, K., Thi Le, P., Ngoc Nguyen, N., Linh Tran, H., Hung Nguyen, M., Minh Tran, D., & Hoang, H. (2022). The first data of allele frequencies for 23 autosomal STRs in the Ede ethnic group in Vietnam. Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 57, 102072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102072 (Q2, SCIE, IF 2.0)

o Tran, L. H., Chu, P. T. M., Nguyen, T. H., La, H. V., Nguyen, H. T. H., Tran, H. T., Nguyen, H. M., Hoang, H., & Chu, H. H. (2022). Genetic structure and population connection of two Bouyei populations in northern Vietnam based on short tandem repeat analysis. American journal of human biology: the official journal of the Human Biology Council, 34(5), e23702. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23702 (Q1, SCIE, IF 2.9)

o Ta, M. T. A., Nguyen, N. N., Tran, D. M., Nguyen, T. H., Vu, T. A., Le, D. T., Le, P. T., Do, T. T. H., Hoang, H., & Chu, H. H. (2021). Massively parallel sequencing of human skeletal remains in Vietnam using the precision ID mtDNA control region panel on the Ion S5™ system. International journal of legal medicine, 135(6), 2285–2294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02649-1 (Q1, SCIE, IF 2.68) 

o Tran, H. L., Ta, T. A. M., Nguyen, N. N., Pham, T. T., Hoang, H., & Ha Chu, H. (2021). Population genetic data of 22 autosomal STR loci for the Mong people in Vietnam. Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 48, 101825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101825 (Q2, SCIE, IF 2.0)

- Patents: None.

- Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place):

Education:
Graduate student  successfully defended her Master's thesis on May 16, 2023 and was recognized as a graduate according to Decision 1172/QD-DHLN-DTSDH dated August 16, 2023 (hereinafter attached is the Decision on recognition of thesis guidance and content).
Support training of 01 PhD student Tran Huyen Linh according to Decision 1311/QD-DHKHCN dated December 29, 2022 of the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (hereinafter attached is the Decision on recognition of guidance).