Ancient DNA analysis from epoxy resin Biodur^®-embedded bones.

Area of Science:

• Archaeological science
• Molecular biology
• Forensic science

Background:

• Archaeological bone samples are frequently embedded in Biodur® epoxy resin for microscopic analysis.
• The potential for DNA extraction from these embedded samples is largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if DNA suitable for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification can be extracted from Biodur®-embedded archaeological bone.
• To assess the viability of using such samples for genetic research.

Main Methods:

• Organic DNA extraction was performed on Biodur®-embedded femur samples from eight individuals.
• Native femur samples and control samples of different anatomical origins were used for comparison.
• Extraction success was evaluated using autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) amplification.

Main Results:

• Successful DNA amplification was achieved in seven out of eight Biodur®-embedded femur samples.
• This indicates a high success rate for DNA recovery from embedded bone.
• Results were comparable to native bone samples (data not shown).

Conclusions:

• Biodur®-embedded archaeological bone is a viable source for DNA extraction.
• This opens new avenues for genetic research on previously processed ancient samples.
• Researchers can confidently utilize embedded bone for future molecular analyses.