Sequencing ancient mitochondrial DNA provided insights to the origin of dogs and their domestication. Not only has sequencing allowed us to trace back evolution of species, but also to trace back transmissible cancers. The origins of transmissible cancers, which can be thought of as ancient cell lines, have been traced back 11,000 years. Sequencing has also been used for shorter lineages, as in cloned animals, like Snuppy the first cloned dog. Researchers discovered that cloned animals were more genetically similar than identical twins. Further study of these animals may provide insights into the effects of drugs or environment on epigenetics and various cancers and diseases. For more information on applications of Illumina technology in the field of Agrigenomics, please visit us at Illumina: Agrigenomics http://www.illumina.com/applications/agriculture.ilmn Products: HiSeq http://systems.illumina.com/systems/hiseq_2500_1500.ilmn Publications: PMID: 24233726 | Thalmann O., et al. (2013): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24233726 PMID: 24458646 | Murchison E.P., et al. (2014): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24458646 PMID: 24141358 | Kim H.M., et al. (2013): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24141358 Reviews: Cancer Research Review: http://www.illumina.com/documents/products/research_reviews/cancer_research_review.pdf Metagenomics 2nd Edition: http://www.illumina.com/documents/products/research_reviews/metagenomics_research_review.pdf The Science Mondays (SciMon) series is brought to you by Illumina http://www.illumina.com/ Illumina hosts Swati Kadam, Ph.D., Scientific Liaison, Scientific Affairs and Jacques Retief, Associate Director Scientific Affairs deliver 7 minutes of scientific enlightenment on the latest discoveries. Keywords: sequencing ancient mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial DNA sequencing, sequencing, dog evolution, first cloned dog, transmissible cancers, Illumina