title: [Degradation of biomolecules in bones: effects of the biological forensics as an example of the stability of isotope ratios in collagen].
abstract: Modern bone samples were experimentally degraded by incubation into water at increased temperature and examined in terms of their collagen content, the stable C and N isotopic ratios, and the molar C/N ratio. The same analyses were carried out with archaeological human bone of varying age (300 up to 8000 years). The experimentally degraded samples exhibited changes of the collagen's integrity, which influence the stable isotope ratios. In the case of the archaeological material, a correlation between stable delta13C- and delta15N-values and collagen content could be demonstrated. The molar C:N ratio was no suitable criterion for the assessment of the state of preservation of extractable collagen.
authors.affiliation: Department Biologie I, Biodiversitätsforschung/Anthropologie, Biozentrum der Ludwig-Maximilians, Universität München. M.Harbeck@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harbeck
authors.forename: Reimer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dobberstein
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ritz-Timme
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grupe
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006207:Half-Life; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D003094:Collagen