Isolation and characterization of high-molecular mass DNA from hair shafts

Experiments to identify species by DNA analysis of their hair failed so far because no DNA could be isolated from hair shafts. In this work the preparation of DNA from human--as well as from animal hair shafts (alpaca, angora-rabbit, cashmere, cashgora, mohair, merino and yak) is described for the first time. In general the isolated DNA shows a length of more than 20 kbp. The species of the hair shaft samples could be exactly identified by DNA hybridization experiments. The isolated DNA from hair shafts allow new possibilities to identify species and individuals employing techniques from molecular biology.