evidence

Extracting DNA from Neanderthal Bones

ancient dna extraction bone

One way scientists learn why we are the way we are is by studying our DNA—the chemical code for life. Wouldn’t it be great if we could also study the DNA of our extinct ancestors?

 

ancient dna extraction bone Actually, we can. Under the right conditions, DNA can persist inside fossilized bones for thousands of years. Here, they begin the extraction of DNA from a 38,000-year-old Neanderthal bone.
ancient dna extraction bone This process, called an assay, is a test to see if there’s any usable DNA inside this Neanderthal femur. If so, it’s probably in the middle of the bone, protected from the elements.
ancient dna extraction bone



If any DNA remains, it may be only a minuscule amount—possibly just a single molecule. Touching the specimen could introduce more modern DNA than there is left in the ancient bone, so the technician guards against contamination by wearing gloves and bathing the work area in ultraviolet light to kill bacteria.

We drill into the bone and collect the bone powder.

ancient dna extraction bone We soak the bone powder overnight in an extraction buffer, a substance that melts the bone and collagen and releases the DNA into the solution.
ancient dna extraction bone

Now that the DNA is in solution, we need to get it out. To do that, we do what’s called a silica extraction.

ancient dna extraction bone

We add silica—basically, tiny glass particles—which attach to the DNA. Then we use a centrifuge to spin the solution so the glass particles (with DNA attached) collect together into a pellet.

 

ancient dna extraction bone Then we use another solution to wash the concentrated DNA off the pellets.
ancient dna extraction bone Now we have a small drop of liquid containing the DNA—in other words, a DNA extract.
ancient dna extraction bone

Now that we have a DNA extract, we see if it actually contains Neanderthal DNA by testing the sample for a known segment of the Neanderthal genome.

ancient dna extraction bone

To do this, we add primers (markers that pinpoint this special Neanderthal-only region), and then put the extract into a PCR machine.

ancient dna extraction bone

In two hours, this machine will make lots and lots of copies of this special DNA segment, if it's there.

 

ancient dna extraction bone We use many vials as a control, to double check our work.
ancient dna extraction bone We’re hoping these vials contain lots of copies of a Neanderthal-only segment of DNA.

ancient dna extraction bone To find out if they do, we “run a gel”—that is, put the solution from one of the vials into a tray of gelatinous stuff (agar, from seaweed) and let electricity sort the DNA fragments according to size.

ancient dna extraction bone Once the DNA fragments have been sorted, we look at them under ultraviolet light.
ancient dna extraction bone In this case, we see a series of bright bands that correspond to a fragment that’s 80 base pairs long—bands we only see for Neanderthal DNA. The extraction was successful!
ancient dna extraction bone Now that we know there’s Neanderthal DNA in our extract, we may want to use it to do other experiments.
ancient dna extraction bone For example, we might decide to sequence the ancient DNA (that is, “read” it by identifying each and every chemical component) and then compare it to our own.
Special thanks to: Dr. Johannes
Max Planck Institue for Evolutionary Anthropolgy


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