Brief communication

Identification of the authentic ancient DNA sequence in a human bone contaminated with modern DNA

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8319617
AutoresAbigail S Bouwman, Abigail Bouwman (University of Manchester), Elizabeth R Chilvers (University of Manchester), Keri A Brown (0000-0002-8093-844X, University of Manchester), Thomas A Brown (0000-0002-1006-1099, University of Manchester, autor de correspondencia), Terence A Brown
Año2006
Volumen131
Número3
Páginas428-431
Fecha de publicación2006-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20411
PMID16596603
OpenAlexW2100200620
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas10

We present a method to distinguish authentic ancient DNA from contaminating DNA in a human bone. This is achieved by taking account of the spatial distribution of the various sequence families within the bone and the extent of degradation of the template DNAs, as revealed by the error content of the sequences. To demonstrate the veracity of the method, we handled two ancient human tibiae in order to contaminate them with modern DNA, and then subjected segments of the bones to various decontaminating treatments, including removal of the outer 1–2 mm, before extracting DNA, cloning, and obtaining a total of 107 mitochondrial DNA sequences. Sequences resulting from the deliberate contamination were located exclusively in the outer 1–2 mm of the bones, and only one of these 27 sequences contained an error that could be ascribed to DNA degradation. A second, much smaller set of relatively error‐free sequences, which we ascribe to contamination during excavation or curation, was also located exclusively in the outer 1–2 mm. In contrast, a family of 72 sequences, displaying extensive degradation products but identifiable as haplogroup U5a1a, was distributed throughout one of the bones and represents the authentic ancient DNA content of this specimen. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Ancient DNA · Biology · Cloning (programming) · Contamination · DNA · DNA sequencing · Evolutionary biology · Gene · Human bone · Mitochondrial DNA · Population · Sequence (biology) · Computer Science · Ecology · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Genetics · Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research