Kinship and Y-chromosome analysis of 7th century human remains: novel DNA extraction and typing procedure for ancient material.
OBJECTIVE
To develop novel DNA extraction and typing procedure for DNA identification of the 7th century human remains, determine the familiar relationship between the individuals, estimate the Y-chromosome haplogroup, and compare the Y-chromosome haplotype with the contemporary populations.


METHODS
DNA from preserved femur samples was extracted using the modified silica-based extraction technique. Polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed using human identification kits MiniFiler, Identifiler, and Y-filer and also laboratory-developed and validated Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) pentaplexes with short amplicons.


RESULTS
For 244A, 244B, 244C samples, full autosomal DNA profiles (15 STR markers and Amelogenin) and for 244D, 244E, 244F samples, MiniFiler profiles were produced. Y-chromosome haplotypes consisting of up to 24 STR markers were determined and used to predict the Y-chromosome haplogroups and compare the resulting haplotypes with the current population. Samples 244A, 244B, 244C, and 244D belong to Y-chromosome haplogroup R1b and the samples 244E and 244F to haplogroup G2a. Comparison of ancient haplotypes with the current population yielded numerous close matches with genetic distance below 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of forensic genetics in archaeology enables retrieving new types of information and helps in data interpretation. The number of successfully typed autosomal and Y-STR loci from ancient specimens in this study is one of the largest published so far for aged samples.
Vanek
Daniel
D
Forensic DNA Service, Janovskeho 18, 170 00 Prague 7, Czech Republic. daniel.vanek@DNA.com.cz
Saskova
Lenka
L
Koch
Hubert
H
D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D053803:Forensic Genetics; D005580:Fossils; D050173:Genes, Y-Linked; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D005819:Genetic Markers