Ancient bone DNA amplified

Obtaining, Storing and Archiving Specimens and Tissue Samples for Use in Molecular Studies

“…Skeletal material, which makes up a large proportion of vertebrate collections, is usually devoid of amplifiable DNA [19,21,22,124]. Nevertheless, Hagelberg et al [125] amplified DNA from human bone samples 300-5500 years old. More recently, methods developed for protein extraction from ancient bone were found to yield large amounts of DNA with molecular weights much higher than those seen from ancient soft tissue [126][127][128].…”

Mitochondrial DNA analysis on remains of a putative son of Louis XVI, King of France and Marie-Antoinette

“…5 Moreover, mtDNA is present at high copy numbers in the cells 6 and is therefore more likely to survive the process of autolysis after death than nuclear DNA. 7 Recently, it has been shown that mtDNA analysis can be performed successfully on human remains up to 12 000 years old 8 and even on the skeleton of a Neanderthaler. 9 Here, we present the results of a DNA analysis on the remains of Naundorff and of maternal relatives of Louis XVII to establish the identity of Naundorff.…”

Evolution of ascariasis in humans and pigs: a multi-disciplinary approach

“…In the 1980s, it was shown that molecules of DNA could be preserved in ancient soft tissues (Higuchi et al 1984, Pääbo 1985 and in bone material (Horai et al 1989, Hagelberg et al 1989. Today, by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it is possible to detect and amplify the rare DNA fragments that have been scarcely preserved in fossils, including DNA from the pathogens they hosted.…”