Alu SINE analyses of 3,000-year-old human skeletal remains: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As Short Interspersed Elements (SINEs), human-specific Alu elements can be used for population genetic studies. Very recent inserts are polymorphic within and between human populations. In a sample of 30 elements originating from three different Alu subfamilies, we investigated whether they are preserved in prehistorical skeletal human remains from the Bronze Age Lichtenstein cave in Lower Saxony, Germany. In the present study, we examined a prehistoric triad of father, mother and daughter.

Results

For 26 of the 30 Alu loci investigated, definite results were obtained. We were able to demonstrate that presence/absence analyses of Alu elements can be conducted on individuals who lived 3,000 years ago. The preservation of the ancient DNA (aDNA) is good enough in two

SUBMITTER: Kothe M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4836192 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature