Journal Published Online: 01 January 1993
Volume 38, Issue 1

Extraction, Evaluation, and Amplification of DNA from Decalcified and Undecalcified United States Civil War Bone

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from documented skeletal specimens of U.S. Civil War soldiers to determine the need for decalcification prior to extraction. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine if the calcification state had an effect on the ability to amplify the extracts and to determine how successful amplification would be with these aged specimens. Bone samples were pulverized to a fine powder and divided into two sets. One set of samples was decalcified and the other set left undecalcified. Both sets were extracted using an organic procedure. The results demonstrate that decalcification is not a necessary step in the extraction process and that the yield of DNA is generally two times greater when decalcification is omitted. Furthermore, the calcification state had no effect on the ability to perform the PCR. Although the extracted DNA was very degraded, a 410 base pair (bp) segment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was amplified. These results suggest that DNA can be extracted and amplified from 125 year old bone without decalcification, which may assist in the identity of modern and historic forensic specimens.

Author Information

Fisher, DL
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.
Holland, MM
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.
Mitchell, L
Institute of Mental Health, Neuroscience Center, National Institutes of Health, Washington, DC
Sledzik, PS
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC
Wilcox, AW
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC
Wadhams, M
Cellmark Diagnostics, Germantown, MD
Weedn, VW
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.
Pages: 9
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JFS13376J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13376J