Assignment of isolated skeletal elements by aDNA typing

Analysis of ancient DNA of material found in the Lichtensteinhöhle, a burial site of the Younger Bronze Age has been used for the first time to assign isolated skeletal elements to corresponding individuals. The method involved DNA typing through amplification of five Short Tandem Repeat loci which are also used in forensic genetics for the determination of kinship and identification. From all of the examined bone samples DNA was successfully extracted and amplification by means of Polymerase Chain Reaction could be carried out. For the skeletal elements allelic profiles which are specific for an individual were set up. These profiles made it possible to recognize bones belonging to one individual. Elements which were not from this individual could be excluded with certainty by aDNA analysis.

Allele · Ancient DNA · Biology · Computational biology · DNA · DNA profiling · Evolutionary biology · Forensic Genetics · Forensic identification · Gene · Microsatellite · Polymerase chain reaction · Population · STR analysis · Typing · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies · Forensic and Genetic Research · Genetics · Medicine