Fol. Biol. 2010, 56, 47-50

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2010056020047

DNA Analysis of Ancient Skeletal Remains

Irena Eliášová1, I. Mazura1, L. Smejtek2

1Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Prague, Czech Republic
2Institute for Archaeological Heritage of Central Bohemia, Prague, Czech Republic

Received May 2009
Accepted June 2009

Non-Governmental Organization Archaia (http://www.archaia.cz) carried out the rescue archaeological research at Kněževes near Prague in 1998. Most of dating objects in Kněževes come from the period of Late and Final Bronze Age. The approximately 3,000 years old set, which included 11 human remains from three settlement features, was collected for the study. First, gender was determined according to anthropological characteristics. Ancient DNA from bones was extracted by the phenol-chloroform procedure and N-phenacetylthiazolum bromide reagent. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of AMEL XY, part of amelogenin gene, with subsequent polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Short Tandem Repeats analysis followed. DNA profiles of skeletal remains were obtained by the fragmentation analysis of autosomal short tandem repeat markers. Genetic profiles showed us whether individuals from Kněževes were in mutual relationship (parent – descendant). The congruence of results in sex determination supported reliability of genetic methods, which are suitable for sex determination of fragmental and subadult skeletal remains.

References

15 live references