The development of visual and chemical methods for predicting the likelihood of obtaining a DNA profile from degraded bone samples

Received 28 August 2007; accepted 10 October 2007.

Abstract

Gross morphology, histology and nitrogen content were examined in bone samples from individuals that had been buried for approximately 12 years in Kuwait and Iraq. The results indicate that the gross morphology and histology are useful indicators of DNA survival. Nitrogen content did not show a significant correlation with DNA preservation.

Keywords: Degraded DNA, Diagenetic, Gross morphology, Histology, Nitrogen content

School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK

Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 1772 894254; fax: +44 1772 894981.

PII: S1875-1768(08)00106-6

doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2007.10.139

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