title: Authenticated DNA from ancient wood remains.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reconstruction of biological processes and human activities during the last glacial cycle relies mainly on data from biological remains. Highly abundant tissues, such as wood, are candidates for a genetic analysis of past populations. While well-authenticated DNA has now been recovered from various fossil remains, the final 'proof' is still missing for wood, despite some promising studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The goal of this study was to determine if ancient wood can be analysed routinely in studies of archaeology and palaeogenetics. An experiment was designed which included blind testing, independent replicates, extensive contamination controls and rigorous statistical tests. Ten samples of ancient wood from major European forest tree genera were analysed with plastid DNA markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Authentic DNA was retrieved from wood samples up to 1,000 years of age. A new tool for real-time vegetation history and archaeology is ready to use.
authors.affiliation: Philipps-University Marburg, Faculty of Biology Nature Conservation Division, Karl-von-Frisch-Str 2, Marburg, Germany. liepelt@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liepelt
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sperisen
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Deguilloux
authors.forename: Remy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kissling
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Jacques-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de Beaulieu
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taberlet
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gielly
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ziegenhagen
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant