Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals
Abstract Shape, size, composition, and function of the bones in the human body vary on the macro, micro and nanoscale. This can influence changes caused by taphonomy and post-mortem preservation, including DNA. Highly mineralised compact bone is less susceptible to taphonomic factors than porous tra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41259-2 |
| _version_ | 1797453084223340544 |
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| author | Tamara Leskovar Jezerka Inkret Irena Zupanič Pajnič Ivan Jerman |
| author_facet | Tamara Leskovar Jezerka Inkret Irena Zupanič Pajnič Ivan Jerman |
| author_sort | Tamara Leskovar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Shape, size, composition, and function of the bones in the human body vary on the macro, micro and nanoscale. This can influence changes caused by taphonomy and post-mortem preservation, including DNA. Highly mineralised compact bone is less susceptible to taphonomic factors than porous trabecular bone. Some studies imply that DNA can be better preserved in trabecular bone, due to remnants of the soft tissue or bacteria better digesting organic matter while not digesting DNA. The aim of this study was to understand the differences between compact (diaphyses) and trabecular (epiphyses) bone on a molecular level and thus the reasons for the better preservation of the DNA in the trabecular bone. The powder obtained from epiphyses and diaphyses of metacarpals and metatarsals was analysed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and compared. Samples with poorest DNA preservation originated from diaphyses, predominantly of metatarsals. They were characterised by higher concentrations of phosphates and crystallinity, while lower collagen quality in comparison to samples with the best DNA preservation. Epiphyses presented higher concentrations of better-preserved collagen while diaphyses had higher concentrations of carbonates and phosphates and higher crystallinity. Due to better-preserved collagen in the epiphyses, the soft tissue remnants hypothesis seems more likely than the bacteria hypothesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:17:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba5ee916b661417c81e3b8964c4144ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:17:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba5ee916b661417c81e3b8964c4144ff2023-11-26T12:59:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-09-011311810.1038/s41598-023-41259-2Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsalsTamara Leskovar0Jezerka Inkret1Irena Zupanič Pajnič2Ivan Jerman3Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of LjubljanaInstitute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of LjubljanaInstitute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of LjubljanaNational Institute of ChemistryAbstract Shape, size, composition, and function of the bones in the human body vary on the macro, micro and nanoscale. This can influence changes caused by taphonomy and post-mortem preservation, including DNA. Highly mineralised compact bone is less susceptible to taphonomic factors than porous trabecular bone. Some studies imply that DNA can be better preserved in trabecular bone, due to remnants of the soft tissue or bacteria better digesting organic matter while not digesting DNA. The aim of this study was to understand the differences between compact (diaphyses) and trabecular (epiphyses) bone on a molecular level and thus the reasons for the better preservation of the DNA in the trabecular bone. The powder obtained from epiphyses and diaphyses of metacarpals and metatarsals was analysed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and compared. Samples with poorest DNA preservation originated from diaphyses, predominantly of metatarsals. They were characterised by higher concentrations of phosphates and crystallinity, while lower collagen quality in comparison to samples with the best DNA preservation. Epiphyses presented higher concentrations of better-preserved collagen while diaphyses had higher concentrations of carbonates and phosphates and higher crystallinity. Due to better-preserved collagen in the epiphyses, the soft tissue remnants hypothesis seems more likely than the bacteria hypothesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41259-2 |
| spellingShingle | Tamara Leskovar Jezerka Inkret Irena Zupanič Pajnič Ivan Jerman Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals Scientific Reports |
| title | Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals |
| title_full | Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals |
| title_short | Comparison of DNA preservation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals |
| title_sort | comparison of dna preservation and atr ftir spectroscopy indices of cortical and trabecular bone of metacarpals and metatarsals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41259-2 |
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