ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a pre-screening technique for the PMI assessment and DNA preservation in human skeletal remains : a review

Leskovar, Tamara (author), Zupanič-Pajnič, Irena (author), Jerman, Ivan (author), Črešnar, Matija (author)

Skeletal remains from archaeological and forensic contexts are commonly used for various analyses, including DNA. Our research investigates relatively fast and inexpensive ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with further data manipulation as a potential pre-screening technique for assessing the preservation state of skeletal remains. We seek to correlate spectra and chemometric indices with the biological, chemical, and physical composition of the skeletal tissue, and the quality and quantity of DNA preserved in the tissue, also considering the skeletal element, absolute age, and environmental conditions to which the remains have been exposed. Our research focuses on human bones and teeth derived from archaeological, WWII and forensic contexts. The samples are cleaned and pulverized according to established methodological procedures for DNA extraction. DNA is extracted and quantified, while the remaining powder is analysed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The obtained spectra are manipulated to extract the chemometric indices, which are the base for statistical analyses, machine learning, and prediction algorithms. A compilation of results from several studies shows that ATR-FTIR spectra present a solid base for researchers to better understand the preservation state of phosphates, carbonates, and collagen in the skeletal tissues, assessment of post-mortem interval, and the preservation of the DNA. Although many questions still need to be answered, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with further data manipulation has a high potential for research of taphonomic changes, PMI and DNA preservation in human skeletal remains.

• Language: English
• Keywords: human remains, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, preservation state, pre-screening method
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts; MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 56-64
• Numbering: Vol. 660
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-145905
• UDC: 615.4
• ISSN on article: 1040-6182
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2022.09.004
• COBISS.SI-ID: 123458819
• Publication date in RUL: 17.05.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Quaternary international
• Shortened title: Quat. int.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1040-6182
• COBISS.SI-ID: 15081989

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: človeški ostanki, ATR-FTIR spektroskopija, stanje ohranjenosti