Keiko Kitagawa
Papers
1
Total Citations
21
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Keiko Kitagawa is a leading figure in ancient DNA (aDNA) research, with a primary focus on developing and refining molecular capture techniques to unlock the genetic secrets of the past. Her most cited work, the 2021 study "Performance and automation of ancient DNA capture with RNA hyRAD probes," represents a major methodological contribution to the field. This paper, garnering 21 citations, provides the first comprehensive assessment of RNA hyRAD probes for targeted aDNA enrichment. By demonstrating how these probes can efficiently isolate preselected genomic regions from highly degraded and environmentally contaminated aDNA extracts, Kitagawa has significantly enhanced the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of population-scale ancient genomics. Her work directly addresses a critical bottleneck in the field—the overwhelming presence of non-target DNA in ancient samples—enabling researchers to focus sequencing efforts on informative loci. This innovation has broad implications for evolutionary biology, archaeology, and conservation genetics, solidifying Kitagawa’s reputation as a key innovator in aDNA methodology and a driving force behind the automation of ancient genome analysis.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Performance and automation of ancient DNA capture with RNA hyRAD probes21 citations · 2021