A Blind Testing Design for Authenticating Ancient DNA Sequences

Contamination controls when preparing archaeological remains for ancient DNA analysis

“…We advocate the implementation of blind tests in all ancient DNA studies (whenever possible) to aid in contamination detection [36,37]. Field archaeologists can help facilitate this objective.…”

DNA species identification of archaeological salmon bone from the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America

“…The double-blind test used in this study should also add some "power" to the authentication process [43]. The first author was not aware of the archaeological evidence or interpretations until the ancient DNA work was completed.…”

“…2). A double-blind test [43] was used in the analysis. Bone samples were made available for the study, but information on possible species identification based on morphological and other archaeological evidence was not initially provided.…”

Short sequence effect of ancient DNA on mammoth phylogenetic analyses

“…Thirdly, the ancient woolly mammoth is the only kind of elephant studied in our lab, which means that there is no possibility of contamination from modern elephant specimens. Finally, and also the most important one, the extraction process was repeated by different persons with the design of blind testing (Yang et al, 1997) and repeated in an independent laboratory in Zhongshan University. On these points, we conclude that our results indeed represent authentic woolly mammoth sequences.…”