Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy

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Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy. / Gilbert, M. T. P.; Rudbeck, L.; Willerslev, E.; Hansen, Anders J.; Smith, C.; Penkman, K. E. H.; Prangenberg, K.; Nielsen-Marsh, C. M.; Jans, M. E.; Arthur, P.; Lynnerup, N.; Turner-Walker, G.; Biddle, M.; Kjolbye-Biddle, B.; Collins, M. J.

In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 32, No. 5, 2005, p. 785-793.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Gilbert, MTP, Rudbeck, L, Willerslev, E, Hansen, AJ, Smith, C, Penkman, KEH, Prangenberg, K, Nielsen-Marsh, CM, Jans, ME, Arthur, P, Lynnerup, N, Turner-Walker, G, Biddle, M, Kjolbye-Biddle, B & Collins, MJ 2005, 'Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy', Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 785-793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2004.12.008

APA

Gilbert, M. T. P., Rudbeck, L., Willerslev, E., Hansen, A. J., Smith, C., Penkman, K. E. H., Prangenberg, K., Nielsen-Marsh, C. M., Jans, M. E., Arthur, P., Lynnerup, N., Turner-Walker, G., Biddle, M., Kjolbye-Biddle, B., & Collins, M. J. (2005). Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy. Journal of Archaeological Science, 32(5), 785-793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2004.12.008

Vancouver

Gilbert MTP, Rudbeck L, Willerslev E, Hansen AJ, Smith C, Penkman KEH et al. Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy. Journal of Archaeological Science. 2005;32(5):785-793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2004.12.008

Author

Gilbert, M. T. P. ; Rudbeck, L. ; Willerslev, E. ; Hansen, Anders J. ; Smith, C. ; Penkman, K. E. H. ; Prangenberg, K. ; Nielsen-Marsh, C. M. ; Jans, M. E. ; Arthur, P. ; Lynnerup, N. ; Turner-Walker, G. ; Biddle, M. ; Kjolbye-Biddle, B. ; Collins, M. J. / Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy. In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 2005 ; Vol. 32, No. 5. pp. 785-793.

Bibtex

@article{5a73f2109d0c11debc73000ea68e967b,
title = "Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy",
abstract = "The majority of ancient DNA studies on human specimens have utilised teeth and bone as a source of genetic material. In this study the levels of endogenous contamination (i.e. present within the sample prior to sampling for the DNA analysis) are assessed within human bone and teeth specimens sampled from the cemetery of Santa Lucia alle Malve, Matera, Italy. This site is of exceptional interest, because the samples have been assayed for IS measures of biochemical and physical preservation, and it is the only one identified in a study of more than 107 animal and 154 human bones from 43 sites across Europe, where a significant number of human bones was well preserved. The findings demonstrate several important issues: (a) although teeth are more resilient to contamination than bone, both are readily contaminated (presumably through handling or washing), and (b) once contaminated in this way, both are difficult (if not impossible) to decontaminate. Furthermore, although assessed on bone samples, several of the specific biochemical and physical characteristics that describe overall sample preservation, levels of microbial attack and related increases in sample porosity directly correlate with the presence of observable contamination in both bone and teeth samples from individual samples. While we can only speculate on the cause of this relationship, we posit that they provide useful guides for the assessment of whether samples are likely to be contaminated or not. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Udgivelsesdato: 2005",
author = "Gilbert, {M. T. P.} and L. Rudbeck and E. Willerslev and Hansen, {Anders J.} and C. Smith and Penkman, {K. E. H.} and K. Prangenberg and Nielsen-Marsh, {C. M.} and Jans, {M. E.} and P. Arthur and N. Lynnerup and G. Turner-Walker and M. Biddle and B. Kjolbye-Biddle and Collins, {M. J.}",
note = "915MG Times Cited:23 Cited References Count:43",
year = "2005",
doi = "10.1016/j.jas.2004.12.008",
language = "English",
volume = "32",
pages = "785--793",
journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science",
issn = "0305-4403",
publisher = "Academic Press",
number = "5",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy

AU - Gilbert, M. T. P.

AU - Rudbeck, L.

AU - Willerslev, E.

AU - Hansen, Anders J.

AU - Smith, C.

AU - Penkman, K. E. H.

AU - Prangenberg, K.

AU - Nielsen-Marsh, C. M.

AU - Jans, M. E.

AU - Arthur, P.

AU - Lynnerup, N.

AU - Turner-Walker, G.

AU - Biddle, M.

AU - Kjolbye-Biddle, B.

AU - Collins, M. J.

N1 - 915MG Times Cited:23 Cited References Count:43

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - The majority of ancient DNA studies on human specimens have utilised teeth and bone as a source of genetic material. In this study the levels of endogenous contamination (i.e. present within the sample prior to sampling for the DNA analysis) are assessed within human bone and teeth specimens sampled from the cemetery of Santa Lucia alle Malve, Matera, Italy. This site is of exceptional interest, because the samples have been assayed for IS measures of biochemical and physical preservation, and it is the only one identified in a study of more than 107 animal and 154 human bones from 43 sites across Europe, where a significant number of human bones was well preserved. The findings demonstrate several important issues: (a) although teeth are more resilient to contamination than bone, both are readily contaminated (presumably through handling or washing), and (b) once contaminated in this way, both are difficult (if not impossible) to decontaminate. Furthermore, although assessed on bone samples, several of the specific biochemical and physical characteristics that describe overall sample preservation, levels of microbial attack and related increases in sample porosity directly correlate with the presence of observable contamination in both bone and teeth samples from individual samples. While we can only speculate on the cause of this relationship, we posit that they provide useful guides for the assessment of whether samples are likely to be contaminated or not. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Udgivelsesdato: 2005

AB - The majority of ancient DNA studies on human specimens have utilised teeth and bone as a source of genetic material. In this study the levels of endogenous contamination (i.e. present within the sample prior to sampling for the DNA analysis) are assessed within human bone and teeth specimens sampled from the cemetery of Santa Lucia alle Malve, Matera, Italy. This site is of exceptional interest, because the samples have been assayed for IS measures of biochemical and physical preservation, and it is the only one identified in a study of more than 107 animal and 154 human bones from 43 sites across Europe, where a significant number of human bones was well preserved. The findings demonstrate several important issues: (a) although teeth are more resilient to contamination than bone, both are readily contaminated (presumably through handling or washing), and (b) once contaminated in this way, both are difficult (if not impossible) to decontaminate. Furthermore, although assessed on bone samples, several of the specific biochemical and physical characteristics that describe overall sample preservation, levels of microbial attack and related increases in sample porosity directly correlate with the presence of observable contamination in both bone and teeth samples from individual samples. While we can only speculate on the cause of this relationship, we posit that they provide useful guides for the assessment of whether samples are likely to be contaminated or not. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Udgivelsesdato: 2005

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2004.12.008

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2004.12.008

M3 - Journal article

VL - 32

SP - 785

EP - 793

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

SN - 0305-4403

IS - 5

ER -

ID: 14302647