The ancient DNA laboratory, officially opened on Thursday, will allow scientists to extract DNA from bones, teeth and plant matter.
The DNA will be analysed using the latest technology, including the university's $1 million gene sequencing machine bought last year.
The $300,000 facility is a joint project between the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology and the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Gender Studies.
It was established so Prof Lisa Matisoo-Smith, who came to Otago in March from the University of Auckland, could expand her studies using genetic evidence to track human migration and settlement in the Pacific.
Ancient DNA did not necessarily mean from antiquity, Prof Matisoo-Smith said on Thursday.
In scientific terms, ancient meant any DNA samples which were not taken from living subjects.
But some of the samples the laboratory would handle would be thousands of years old, she said.
Already, projects were planned with samples from many parts of New Zealand, several Pacific islands and from Chile.
About 50 people attended the opening, including representatives of Maori iwi whose ancestors' DNA will be analysed in the laboratory.
They spoke of their initial reluctance to allow their ancestors' remains to be analysed because of the intrusiveness of the process.
But they said their discussions with Prof Matisoo-Smith and her staff had allayed their fears and they were hoping the laboratory would provide interesting information on how their ancestors lived, what they ate and what they looked like.
Respecting the remains of people from the past was paramount, Prof Matisoo-Smith said.
The laboratory is off-limits to all but authorised staff.
Prof Matisoo-Smith said an ultra-clean environment had to be preserved to ensure ancient DNA samples were not contaminated.
What is DNA?
- Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the hereditary material which contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses.
- It is what makes living things uniquely different from one another.
