Patellae as a source of DNA in forensic and archaeological analysis

Geršak, Živa Miriam (author), Golob, Aja (author), Kravanja, Pia (author), Concato, Monica (author), Leskovar, Tamara (author), Zupanič-Pajnič, Irena (author)

Analysing genetic material from skeletonised human remains has become valuable in forensic and archaeological contexts. While the petrous bone is often preferred for DNA extraction, its availability is not guaranteed, and because of destructive sampling, it is not frequently used in forensic cases. This study explores the potential of patellae as an alternative source of bone material for genetic investigations. Forty-five patellae were sampled from a post-World War II mass grave and an archaeological Christian cemetery dated from the 13th to 19th centuries. A full demineralisation extraction method was used to obtain the DNA, and real-time PCR quantification was used to determine the quantity and quality of DNA. To evaluate the suitability of patellae for forensic and archaeological analyses, short tandem repeat (STR) typing was performed using the ESI17 Fast PCR amplification kit (Promega). To explore the difference in DNA yield, DNA degradation and STR typing success between the post-World War II and archaeological patellae, statistical analysis was performed. The results revealed significantly higher DNA yield and STR typing success in WWII patellae and higher degradation of DNA in archaeological patellae, highlighting the impact of environmental exposure time on genetic material preservation. Almost all WWII patellae achieved a high success rate in STR typing with full profiles generated. More than half of the archaeological patellae showed high STR typing performance and highly informative partial profiles were obtained, indicating the suitability of patellae not only for forensic purposes but also for archaeological genetic analyses.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ancient DNA, archeological analyses, forensic analyses, genetic identification, patellae, STR typing, skeletal remains, WWII
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine; FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 473–482
• Numbering: Vol. 139, iss. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-167751
• UDC: 61
• ISSN on article: 0937-9827
• DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03363-4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 215876611
• Publication date in RUL: 10.03.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International journal of legal medicine
• Shortened title: Int. j. leg. med.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 0937-9827
• COBISS.SI-ID: 527892

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: starodavna DNK, arheološka analiza, forenzična analiza, genetska identifikacija, pogačica, metoda STR typing, skeletni ostanki, druga svetovna vojna

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J3-3080
• Name: Določitev predniškega porekla iz DNA za identifikacijske namene