title: Comparison of DNA extraction and amplification from ancient human bone and mummified soft tissue.
abstract: South american precolumbian male mummies were employed as source material for a comparative investigation of bone and soft tissues by DNA analysis. The suitability of the DNA extracts from both sources was tested and evaluated by their effectiveness as target DNA in PCR amplifications. The results suggest that skeletal material should be given preference over soft tissues for PCR analysis if the material is severely degraded. This seems to be independent of the specific anatomical origin of the samples.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009106:Mummies; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D004247:DNA