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A Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid-based Method for Complete Recovery of DNA from Bone |
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| Authors: | Leon Huynen Ph.D. David M. Lambert Ph.D. |
| Affiliation: | 1. Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld, 4111 Australia Additional information and reprint requests: Leon Huynen, Ph.D. Environmental Futures Research Institute Griffith University 170 Kessels Road Nathan, Qld 4111 Australia E-mail: Lhuynen@gmail.com;2. Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld, 4111 Australia |
| Abstract: | The successful extraction of DNA from historical or ancient animal bone is important for the analysis of discriminating genetic markers. Methods used currently rely on the digestion of bone with EDTA and proteinase K, followed by purification with phenol/chloroform and silica bed binding. We have developed a simple concentrated hydrochloric acid-based method that precludes the use of phenol/chloroform purification and can lead to a several-fold increase in DNA yield when compared to other commonly used methods. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was shown to dissolve most of the undigested bone and allowed the efficient recovery of DNA fragments <100 bases in length. This method should prove useful for the recovery of DNAs from highly degraded animal bone, such as that found in historical or ancient samples. |
| Keywords: | forensic science Ancient DNA DNA extraction bone hydrochloric acid |