Authenticated DNA from ancient wood remains.
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.
Liepelt
Sascha
S
Philipps-University Marburg, Faculty of Biology Nature Conservation Division, Karl-von-Frisch-Str 2, Marburg, Germany. liepelt@staff.uni-marburg.de
Sperisen
Christoph
C
Deguilloux
Marie-France
MF
Petit
Remy J
RJ
Kissling
Roy
R
Spencer
Matthew
M
de Beaulieu
Jacques-Louis
JL
Taberlet
Pierre
P
Gielly
Ludovic
L
Ziegenhagen
Birgit
B
D001483:Base Sequence; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014934:Wood
D018744:DNA, Plant