Comment on "Whole-genome shotgun sequencing of mitochondria from ancient hair shafts"

Science. 2008 Nov 7;322(5903):857; author reply 857. doi: 10.1126/science.1158565.

Abstract

Gilbert et al. (Reports, 28 September 2007, p. 1927) reported that "hair shafts surpass comparably stored bone as an aDNA source [...] in regard to preservation and concentration of mtDNA." When experimental parameters are carefully controlled for, including adequate sampling, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, and modeling the decay of DNA, the general importance of this claim is not supported.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / chemistry
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / history*
  • Elephants / genetics*
  • Genome, Mitochondrial
  • Hair* / chemistry
  • History, Ancient
  • Preservation, Biological
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial