InnoXtract vs PrepFiler BTA: Extracting DNA from Burned Skeletal Remains

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different levels of DNA extraction in thermally altered samples by comparing the InnoXtract and PrepFiler BTA extraction kits. PrepFiler BTA is a DNA extraction kit designed to use for bone samples which uses silica coated magnetic beads to extract DNA from powdered bone. InnoXtract is a specialized kit for bone samples which uses the same silica coated magnetic bead method for DNA extraction. Burned skeletal remains pose a challenge since high temperature exposure denatures the DNA and degrades DNA that can be extracted. For this experiment, porcine femurs were used as a human model. The porcine femurs were given one of three treatments, unburned, burned at 200 o C for 15 minutes, or burned at 200 o C for 30 minutes. Cuttings of each bone’s cross section were taken and powdered. The powder was used for extractions. Three extractions were done from each cross section per extraction kit. The extractions were analyzed by running real-time PCR quantitation on the samples. The data showed that the length of time the bones were burned was not statistically significant and that the extraction kit used was not statistically significant in relation to the quantity of DNA recovered