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Human DNA extraction from highly degraded skeletal remains: How to find a suitable method?
Author(s) -
VinuezaEspinosa Diana C.,
Santos Cristina,
MartínezLabarga Cristina,
Malgosa Assumpció
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.202000171
Subject(s) - dna extraction , chromatography , cementum , extraction (chemistry) , dna fragmentation , dna , chemistry , materials science , polymerase chain reaction , biochemistry , dentin , apoptosis , programmed cell death , composite material , gene
Retrieving DNA from highly degraded human skeletal remains is still a challenge due to low concentration and fragmentation, which makes it difficult to extract and purify. Recent works showed that silica‐based methods allow better DNA recovery and this fact may be attributed to the type of bones and the quality of the preserved tissue. However, more systematic studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of the different silica‐based extraction methods considering the type of bones. The main goal of the present study is to establish the best extraction method and the type of bone that can maximize the recovery of PCR‐amplifiable DNA and the subsequent retrieval of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic information. Five individuals were selected from an archaeological site located in Catalonia–Spain dating from 5th to 11th centuries AD. For each individual, five samples from different skeletal regions were collected: petrous bone, pulp cavity and cementum of tooth, and rib and limb bones. Four extraction methods were tested, three silica‐based (silica in‐suspension, HE column and XS plasma column) and the classical method based on phenol–chloroform. Silica in‐suspension method from petrous bone and pulp cavity showed the best results. However, the remains preservation will ultimately be the key to the molecular result success.