Dear Rose,
If it was already possible to detect mtDNA in the skeletons, there sure
is a chance that nuclear DNA can be detected as well. Last year I worked
with skeletal remains from a person who drowned in 1888 in the Dutch
Zuiderzee (salt water untill 1932 and fresh water from then on, untill
impoldering in 1950. The remains were excavated in 1976. The extracted
DNA gave high quality nuclear results (autosomal and Y STR's), the
authentity could be verified because the skeleton could be linked to a
great grand son, still alive today. They had the exact same Y STR
profile that is very rare in Holland.
If you need more in formation, please let me know, and good luck with
the research
Best wishes,
Eveline Altena
PhD student human aDNA research
Forensic Laboratory for DNA Research (FLDO)
Leiden Universitary Medical Centre
The Netherlands
-----Original Message-----
From: Ancient DNA List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Danae Rebecca Dodge
Sent: dinsdag 7 oktober 2008 14:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Ancient DNA from submerged remains?
Dear all,
A student from York's Archaeology department has a general aDNA question
that I, and her, would like to pose to the aDNA community. Hopefully,
this can stimulate some exciting discussion! To answer the question, use
the reply e-mail address of the group above.
Q:
I have a colleague who is considering an attempt to extract what I
believe would be nuclear DNA from bones soaked in the sea for 400+ yrs.
The remains look great because they were covered by sediments, which
protected them from bacterial activity, but I am concerned about
drilling holes into truly unique specimens. Teeth in intact mandibles
and skulls would be used to match collagen samples from the post crania,
as my colleague wants further evidence (beyond macroscopic assessment)
that certain post-cranial elements belong to each other and to
particular skulls.
I have suggested using the less-complete skels to see if amplification
of nuclear DNA is viable but past amplification of mtDNA on bones from
this same assemblage gives her confidence that this can work. I am
wondering if nuclear DNA can potentially be extracted from submerged
remains, and am curious about others' opinions.
Thanks
Rose Drew
Rose Drew PhD student Dept of Archaeology University of York
____________________
Danae R. Dodge
Graduate School of Archaeology
West Court
2 Mappin St
University of Sheffield
Sheffield
S1 4DT
Tel: 0114 222 5102
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