The mysteries of DNA preservation in bone : a comparative study of petrous bones and metacarpal epiphyses using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

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

A comparative analysis of 26 petrous bones and epiphyses of metacarpals from the Second World War era revealed no significant differences in DNA yield or success in STR typing. This unexpected parity in DNA preservation between the petrous bone, a renowned source of endogenous DNA in skeletal remains, and the epiphyses of metacarpals, which are porous and susceptible to taphonomic changes, is surprising. In this study, we introduced ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as an approach to unravel the correlation between bone molecular structure and DNA preservation. Metacarpals and petrous bones with same taphonomic history were sampled and prepared for DNA analyses. While one portion of the sample was used for DNA analysis, the other underwent ATR-FTIR spectroscopic examination. The normalized spectra and FTIR indices between the epiphyses of metacarpals and petrous bones were compared. Because the taphonomic history of the remains used is relatively short and stable, the ATR-FTIR spectroscopy unveiled subtle structural differences between the two bone types. Petrous bones exhibited higher mineralization, whereas epiphyses contained more organic matter. The unexpected preservation of DNA in the epiphyses of metacarpals can likely be attributed to the presence of soft tissue remnants within the trabeculae. Here observed differences in the molecular structure of bones indicate there are different mechanisms enabling DNA preservation in skeletal tissues.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, DNA preservation, metacarpals, molecular structure, petrous bone, soft tissue remnants
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts; MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 8 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 360, art. 112076
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158505
• UDC: 61
• ISSN on article: 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112076
• COBISS.SI-ID: 198838019
• Publication date in RUL: 14.06.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Forensic science international
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1872-6283
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23017945

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: ATR-FTIR spektroskopija, ohranjanje DNK, metakarpalne kosti, molekularna struktura, petrorozna kost, ostanki mehkih tkiv

Projects

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

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0393
• Name: Napredni materiali za nizkoogljično in trajnostno družbo