Ancient Dna Analysis and its Probable Applications in Forensic Anthropology

The introduction of molecular techniques in biological anthropology has opened up new possibilities in the discipline. Ancient DNA studies have answered a number of archaeological, paleontological and forensic anthropological questions as it exposes the identity of our ancient ancestors through molecular techniques from ancient/exhumed skeletal remains. The retrieval of DNA sequences from skeletal remains like bones and teeth can reveal the genetic and evolutionary history of humans as well as can reveal routes of ancient human migrations. The lineages of our ancient ancestors have survived by chance in the special pieces of DNA. Human genome contains many genetic traits of their contemporaries which help in identifying the most recent common ancestors. Though DNA is passed on from one generation to another and gets mixed up in the progeny; however, special pieces of it remain unaltered and are subjected to inheritable genetic mutations. The number, rate and order (time) and age of these mutations can be determined since the time they appeared and hence their time of burial can be predicted. Modern humans are thought to evolve from a common female ancestor some about 1, 40,000 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa. It has now been estimated that the limit for DNA preservation is approximately 19.000 years at 10°C, hence specimens from any site that has a thermal age normalized as 10°C >19.000 years are unlikely to contain ancient DNA. Presence of PCR inhibitors, endogenous DNA, damage and fragmentation are the main challenges commonly encountered in ancient DNA analyses.