Pulling out the 1%: whole-genome capture for the targeted enrichment of ancient DNA sequencing libraries.

ABSTRACT: Most ancient specimens contain very low levels of endogenous DNA, precluding the shotgun sequencing of many interesting samples because of cost. Ancient DNA (aDNA) libraries often contain <1% endogenous DNA, with the majority of sequencing capacity taken up by environmental DNA. Here we present a capture-based method for enriching the endogenous component of aDNA sequencing libraries. By using biotinylated RNA baits transcribed from genomic DNA libraries, we are able to capture DNA fragments from across the human genome. We demonstrate this method on libraries created from four Iron Age and Bronze Age human teeth from Bulgaria, as well as bone samples from seven Peruvian mummies and a Bronze Age hair sample from Denmark. Prior to capture, shotgun sequencing of these libraries yielded an av

SUBMITTER: Carpenter ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3824117 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature