Optimal Ancient DNA Yields from the Inner Ear Part of the Human Petrous Bone

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129102
• Publication Date: 2015-06-18T18:05:32Z
• Authors: Ron Pinhasi; Daniel Fernandes; Kendra Sirak; Mario Novak; Sarah Connell; Songül Alpaslan-R...; Fokke Gerritsen; Vyacheslav Moiseyev; Andrey Gromov; Pál Raczky; Alexandra Anders; Michael Pietrusewsky; Gary Rollefson; Marija Jovanovic; Hiep Trinhhoang; Guy Bar-Oz; Marc Oxenham; Hirofumi Matsumura; Michael Hofreiter
• Keywords: Petrous bone; Ancient DNA; Exogenous DNA

The invention and development of next or second generation sequencing methods has resulted in a dramatic transformation ancient DNA research allowed shotgun entire genomes from fossil specimens. However, although there are exceptions, most specimens contain only low (~ 1% less) percentages endogenous DNA. skeletal element for which systematically higher content compared to other elements been shown is the petrous part temporal bone. In this study we investigate whether (a) different parts bone archaeological human give yields, (b) significant differences average read lengths, damage patterns total concentration, (c) it possible obtain bones hot environments. We carried out intra-petrous comparisons ten Holocene contexts across Eurasia dated between 10,000-1,800 calibrated years before present (cal. BP). obtained sequences three distinct areas within petrous: spongy trabecular (part A), dense cortical encircling osseous inner ear, otic capsule B), C). Our results confirm that can provide high aDNA yields indicate fractions C exceed those B by up 65-fold A 177-fold, while concentrations 126-fold 109-fold these comparisons. also show were lower than samples (both arid humid) parts, at least some reads originate molecules, potentially enabling analyses regions otherwise not amenable analyses.