Switching Gears of DNA Extraction: From Destructive to Non- Destructive

In many cases where samples such as historical remains, museum samples, missing person and criminal sample needs to be preserved for years; DNA extraction by destructive methods is not feasible due to loss of precious samples. Hard tissue and mineralised body parts like bones and teeth are only accessible sources of DNA in mass disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, aircraft crashes, train wreck, derailments, and building fires with disfigured and decomposed bodies. The protective composition of teeth and bones provides an extra protection over soft tissue and thus its high resistance to the action of physical and chemical agents makes them the only choice for DNA extraction. This review summarises the previous and current methods of DNA extraction from tooth and bone, emphasizing its effect on DNA yield, efficiency to yield amplifiable amount of mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA, PCR amplification, PCR inhibition and its morphology. The likelihood to recover DNA from ancient teeth and bones in short time, with little contamination is the need of the hour and future thrust area of forensic biology. It will not only benefit forensic field but will be equally insightful in solving, archaeological and medical questions.