Retrieving DNA from highly degraded human skeletal remains is still a challenge due to low concentration and fragmentation, which makes it difficult to extract and purify. Recent works showed that silica‐based methods allow better DNA recovery and this fact may be attributed to the type of bones and the quality of the preserved tissue. However, more systematic studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of the different silica‐based extraction methods considering the type of bones. The main goal of the present study is to establish the best extraction method and the type of bone that can maximize the recovery of PCR‐amplifiable DNA and the subsequent retrieval of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic information. Five individuals were selected from an archaeological site located in Catalonia–Spain dating from 5th to 11th centuries AD. For each individual, five samples from different skeletal regions were collected: petrous bone, pulp cavity and cementum of tooth, and rib and limb bones. Four extraction methods were tested, three silica‐based (silica in‐suspension, HE column and XS plasma column) and the classical method based on phenol–chloroform. Silica in‐suspension method from petrous bone and pulp cavity showed the best results. However, the remains preservation will ultimately be the key to the molecular result success.

中文翻译：

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从高度降解的骨骼遗骸中提取人类DNA：如何找到合适的方法？


从高度降解的人类骨骼遗骸中回收 DNA 仍然是一个挑战，因为浓度低且碎片化，使得提取和纯化变得困难。最近的研究表明，基于二氧化硅的方法可以更好地恢复 DNA，这一事实可能归因于骨骼的类型和保存组织的质量。然而，需要更系统的研究来评估考虑骨骼类型的不同二氧化硅基提取方法的效率。本研究的主要目标是建立最佳的提取方法和骨骼类型，以最大限度地回收 PCR 扩增 DNA 以及随后检索线粒体和核遗传信息。从位于西班牙加泰罗尼亚的一处考古遗址中选出了 5 个人，其历史可追溯至公元 5 世纪至 11 世纪。对于每个个体，收集了来自不同骨骼区域的五个样本：岩骨、牙髓腔和牙骨质、肋骨和四肢骨。测试了四种提取方法，三种基于二氧化硅的提取方法（二氧化硅悬浮液、HE 柱和 XS 等离子柱）和基于苯酚-氯仿的经典方法。来自岩骨和牙髓腔的二氧化硅悬浮法显示出最好的结果。然而，遗骸保存最终将成为分子结果成功的关键。