From Jane Doe to Sofia: DNA Extraction Protocol from Bones and Teeth without Liquid Nitrogen for Identifying Skeletal...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Molecular Biology
• Anthropology

Background:

• DNA analysis is vital for identifying human skeletal remains in criminal cases, missing persons, and archaeology.
• Optimizing DNA extraction from various skeletal elements is crucial for improving identification accuracy.
• Previous methods for DNA extraction from bone and teeth can be labor-intensive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare DNA concentrations across different skeletal elements for enhanced human identification.
• To evaluate the efficacy of automated DNA extraction protocols for forensic samples.
• To determine the optimal skeletal source for reliable genetic analysis in forensic investigations.

Main Methods:

• DNA was extracted and quantified from ten cases of unidentified skeletal remains (2019-2023).
• Samples analyzed included teeth, petrous temporal bone, and femur bone.
• Automated DNA extraction protocols without liquid nitrogen were employed.

Main Results:

• Teeth yielded the highest DNA concentration (3.68 ng/µL), followed by the petrous temporal bone (0.936 ng/µL) and femur (0.633 ng/µL).
• Automated extraction proved faster, more efficient, and less labor-intensive than traditional methods.
• High-quality DNA was successfully extracted from damaged bone and tooth samples.

Conclusions:

• Teeth are the superior skeletal element for DNA extraction in forensic identification due to higher genetic material concentration.
• Automated DNA extraction technology significantly advances forensic science by providing efficient, high-quality results.
• Integrating anthropological assessment with targeted DNA analysis from optimal skeletal sources improves human identification precision.