Elsevier

Methods in Enzymology

Volume 224, 1993, Pages 406-419
Methods in Enzymology

[30] DNA sequences from old tissue remains

https://doi.org/10.1016/0076-6879(93)24031-OGet rights and content

Publisher Summary

This chapter discusses the major sources of material for diachronic molecular studies. It reviews some commonly used methods for extracting and enzymatically (PCR) amplifying ancient DNA and discusses some technical problems associated with them. The theoretical considerations regarding the design of projects involving museum specimens and archaeological remains are presented. Museum collections represent the single largest source of tissues readily available to the investigator. Such collections are of particular value because of provenance data and habitat information on the specimens. In addition, many of the collections include large series representing single localities. Zoological collections are composed predominantly of skeletal remains, dried skin, and specimens fixed in formalin or alcohol. The major problem with DNA extracted from old tissues is that the average length of intact template molecules is much reduced owing to various forms of DNA damage. An interesting finding is that plant remains may be less susceptible to damage than animal remains. This is illustrated by the fact that ancient corncobs yield DNA of a size that, in some cases, allows for determination of restriction fragment length polymorphisms and the amplification of nuclear single-copy genes.

References (29)

  • S. Pääbo et al.

    Curr. Biol.

    (1991)
  • S. Pääbo
  • T.M. Reynolds

    Adv. Food Res.

    (1965)
  • M.C. Longo et al.

    Gene

    (1990)
  • C.E. Greer et al.

    PCR Methods Appl.

    (1991)
  • W.K. Thomas et al.

    J. Mol. Evol.

    (1990)
  • E. Hagelberg et al.

    Nature (London)

    (1989)
  • D.K. Shibata et al.

    J. Exp. Med.

    (1988)
  • G.H. Doran et al.

    Nature (London)

    (1986)
  • S. Pääbo et al.

    Nucleic Acids Res.

    (1988)
  • E.M. Golenberg et al.

    Nature (London)

    (1990)
  • A. Sidow et al.

    Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London B

    (1991)
  • S. Pääbo
  • L.B. Rebrov et al.

    Vestn. Akad. Med. Nauk SSSR

    (1983)
  • Cited by (10)

    • Very old DNA

      1994, Current Opinion in Genetics and Development
    • DNA Survivability in Skeletal Remains

      2013, Manual of Forensic Taphonomy
    • Drosophila

      2006, Drosophila
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text