Scrapheap Challenge: A novel bulk-bone metabarcoding method to investigate ancient DNA in faunal assemblages

D.C. Murray; J. Haile; J. Dortch; N.E. White; D. Haouchar; M.I. Bellgard; R.J. Allcock; G.J. Prideaux; M. Bunce

doi:10.1038/srep03371

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Scrapheap Challenge: A novel bulk-bone metabarcoding method to investigate ancient DNA in faunal assemblages

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Scrapheap Challenge: A novel bulk-bone metabarcoding method to investigate ancient DNA in faunal assemblages

D.C. Murray, J. Haile, J. Dortch, N.E. White, D. Haouchar, M.I. Bellgard, R.J. Allcock, G.J. Prideaux and M. Bunce

Scientific Reports, Vol.3

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep03371

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Abstract

Highly fragmented and morphologically indistinct fossil bone is common in archaeological and paleontological deposits but unfortunately it is of little use in compiling faunal assemblages. The development of a cost-effective methodology to taxonomically identify bulk bone is therefore a key challenge. Here, an ancient DNA methodology using high-throughput sequencing is developed to survey and analyse thousands of archaeological bones from southwest Australia. Fossils were collectively ground together depending on which of fifteen stratigraphical layers they were excavated from. By generating fifteen synthetic blends of bulk bone powder, each corresponding to a chronologically distinct layer, samples could be collectively analysed in an efficient manner. A diverse range of taxa, including endemic, extirpated and hitherto unrecorded taxa, dating back to c.46,000 years BP was characterized. The method is a novel, cost-effective use for unidentifiable bone fragments and a powerful molecular tool for surveying fossils that otherwise end up on the taxonomic “scrapheap”.

Details

Title: Scrapheap Challenge: A novel bulk-bone metabarcoding method to investigate ancient DNA in faunal assemblages
Authors/Creators: D.C. Murray (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J. Haile (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J. Dortch (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
N.E. White (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
D. Haouchar (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
M.I. Bellgard (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
R.J. Allcock (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
G.J. Prideaux (Author/Creator) - Flinders University
M. Bunce (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Scientific Reports, Vol.3
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Identifiers: 991005542482607891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Comparative Genomics; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article
Note: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.189 Genome Studies; 1.189.310 Population Genetics
Web Of Science research areas: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
ESI research areas: Multidisciplinary