Optimized DNA extraction from ancient human bones improves the reproducibility of STR genotyping of highly degraded ancient DNA

Ancient DNA from Human and Animal

Research on ancient DNA (aDNA) has the potential to enable molecular biologists and archeologists to decipher certain aspects of history by direct looking into the past. However, several major problems in this field limit the applicability of aDNA studies, most importantly contamination with modern DNA and postmortem DNA degradation. In this study we extracted and analyzed aDNA obtained from ~3...

Extraction and Analysis of Ancient DNA from Human Remains of Masjede Kabood Burial Site

ancient dna from human and animal

research on ancient dna (adna) has the potential to enable molecular biologists and archeologists to decipher certain aspects of history by direct looking into the past. however, several major problems in this field limit the applicability of adna studies, most importantly contamination with modern dna and postmortem dna degradation. in this study we extracted and analyzed adna obtained from ~3...

Ancient pathogen DNA in human teeth and petrous bones

Recent ancient DNA (aDNA) studies of human pathogens have provided invaluable insights into their evolutionary history and prevalence in space and time. Most of these studies were based on DNA extracted from teeth or postcranial bones. In contrast, no pathogen DNA has been reported from the petrous bone which has become the most desired skeletal element in ancient DNA research due to its high e...

Reproducibility of ancient DNA sequences from extinct Pleistocene fauna.

The study of DNA sequence data obtained from specimens of extinct organisms offers a window into the evolutionary past. However, this area of research is technically very challenging and is strewn with potential pitfalls. Handt et al. (1994) and others (Lindahl 1993; Paabo, Higuchi, and Wilson 1989) have emphasised the need for careful experimental design and procedure in ancient DNA work as we...