Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis is a powerful tool in multidisciplinary research on human remains, potentially leading to kinship scenarios and historical identifications.
Ancient DNA (aDNA) refers to the study of DNA extracted from specimens that died decades, hundreds, or sometimes thousands of years ago. Examples include analyzing DNA recovered from archaeological finds, museum specimens, fossil remains, and other unusual specimens
Alterauge et al. recently published “Beyond simple kinship and identification: aDNA analyses from a 17th-19th century crypt in Germany,” which describes their study to resolve the relationships of three noble families entombed at the cloister church of Riesa.
During that period, the manor and associated crypt were owned by three separate families. Therefore, samples from 17 individuals thought to belong to these three families were used in the analysis.
The remains were analyzed on-site using a mobile X-ray device to help estimate the gender and age, and additional analyses were performed to approximate their age at death. For DNA analysis, bone samples from several locations (teeth, hand and foot bones, and skull fragments) were taken and extracted using PrepFiler BTA Forensic DNA Extraction kit. Extracted samples were amplified using a dual amplification strategy using NGM Detect and NGM SElect PCR Amplification Kits. The advantage of using a dual amplification strategy is that ancient DNA is more degraded than contemporary genetic material, and kits containing the same markers in a different size range could potentially allow better total allele recovery.
Since endogamy was common in noble families, the research team also decided to investigate parental lineages. Therefore, paternal lineage was analyzed for male samples using YSTRs (Applied Biosystem Yfiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit and Promega PowerPlex Y23 System) and mitochondrial DNA with the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel for maternal lineage analysis.
Parentage and kinship analysis was accomplished using familias software from Oslo University Hospital. The identifications were quite complex when considering all the data. YSTR analysis of 11 male individuals showed that eight of the remains were contained within three separate family units, and three were not related paternally. mtDNA analysis showed six mitoypes: four were within the expected familial structure, and two were singlets and unrelated.
The autosomal STR results were much more challenging due to the endogamy, potential missing generations, and STR analysis is best for first-degree relationship testing. Biostatistics and lineage markers revealed the presence of first to third-degree relationships within the cohort. The pedigrees of the families Hanisch/von Odeleben and von Welck were thereby successfully reproduced, while four previously unknown individuals could be linked to the von Felgenhauer family. However, limitations of biostatistical kinship analysis became evident when the kinship scenario went beyond superficial relationships. A combined analysis with archaeological data and historical records resulted in (almost) unambiguous identification of 14 of the 17 individuals.
Title: Beyond simple kinship and identification: aDNA analyses from a 17th-19th century crypt in Germany
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Author: Amelie Alterauge, Sandra Lösch, Andrea Sulzer, Mario Gysi, Cordula Haas
Publication: Forensic Science International: Genetics
Journal Reference: Beyond simple kinship and identification: aDNA analyses from a 17th-19th century crypt in Germany. Crossref DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FSIGEN.2021.102498.
