bone DNA extraction

[jokim]

Does anyone know of a good protocol/procedures for DNA extraction from a skeletal sample?

[luisillo]

Check this link:

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This article describes a method to extract DNA from bones. I successfully extracted and amplified DNA using that method. It works well with recent samples, too. Check it, and if you have any doubt I'll be glad to help you as much as I can.

[jokim]

Thank you! That helps.

Is there also a method of extracting DNA from bone without having to grind the bone into a powder?

[luisillo]

Hardly. DNA is trapped in the hydroappatite crystals of the bones, the thiner and smaller of the material, the better result you get. Also, fragmenting the bones to the smallest should help preventing contamination with foreign DNA.

"Bone must be preprocessed to efficiently extract DNA from the calcium matrix. The success of the extraction process is dependent on the degree of grinding, which can be accomplished by physical grinding or with a drill operated at low speed to reduce heat buildup. The extraction process will work most efficiently with finely ground bone in which cells interspersed in the bone matrix are more accessible for lysis."

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