The study of ancient DNA plays an important role in archaeological and palaeontological research as well as in pathology and forensics. Here, we present a new tool for ancient DNA analysis, which overcomes contamination problems, DNA degradation, and the negative effects of PCR inhibitors while reducing the amount of starting target material in the picogram range. Ancient bone samples from four Egyptian mummies were examined by combining laser microdissection, conventional DNA extraction, and low-volume PCR. Initially, several bone particles (osteons) in the micrometer range were extracted by laser microdissection. Subsequently, ancient DNA amplification was performed to verify our extraction method. Amelogenin and beta-actin gene specific fragments were amplified via low-volume PCR in a total reaction volume of 1 microl. Results of microdissected mummy DNA samples were compared to mummy DNA, which was extracted using a standard DNA extraction method based on pulverization of bone material. Our results highlight the combination of laser microdissection and low-volume PCR as a promising new technique in ancient DNA analysis.

Here we present a novel approach for horizontal transfer of single particles after laser microdissection. The developed technique is a single particle adsorbing system for highly selective and gentle horizontal transfer of microdissected fixed and living material. As mediated via low-pressure technology, the transfer process can be precisely controlled, thus facilitating horizontal particle transfer of any isolated material, e.g. tissue material, single cells or chromosomes, in addition to precise positioning for sample release. This collection method allows one to predefine target positions and enables material transfer without contamination to any planar microchip device. This contamination free transfer is indispensable for novel lab-on-a-chip systems performing nanoscale polymerase chain reaction analyses. Using virtual reaction chamber microdevices, small amounts of microdissected material--as little as one single cell--can be directly transmitted and immediately used for single cell analysis.

This project focuses on the development of an acoustic driven, freely programmable multifunctional biochemical lab-on-a-chip. By combining different platform elements, like microdissection-, nanofluidicand detection-modules, the lab-on-a-chip can be adapted to question-and patient-specific cytogenetic and forensic applications. In contrast to many common lab-on-a-chip approaches presently available, the fluidic handling is done on a planar surface of the lab-on-a-chip. Minute amounts of biochemical fluids are confined in 'virtual' reaction chambers and 'virtual' test tubes in the form of free droplets. The droplets, fluidic tracks and reaction sites are defined at the chip surface by a monolayer chemical modification of the chip surface. Surface acoustic waves are employed to agitate and actuate these little 'virtual' test tubes along predetermined trajectories. Well-defined investigations, controlled in the submicrolitre regime, can be conducted quickly and gently on the lab-on-a-chip.