Work

Novel and Rapid on site Nucleic Acid Quantification Platform Customised for Archaeological Science

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Recent advances in DNA-related technologies have much facilitated bioorganisms identifications relying on the DNA sequences from archaeological and environmental samples including sediments/soils and water.Efficient DNA extraction methods are being thereby in pursuit and the efficacies of each extraction method have been long discussed without understanding the "initial" amount of DNA originally contained in the samples.Knowing the initial DNA concentration would feasibly allow sample selections at the archaeological excavation sites.We herein introduce a novel method substantially realising extraction-free quantification at the excavation site not only of double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) but also singlestranded DNAs (ssDNAs) and mirco RNAs (miRNAs) by commercially-available mobile fluorometer independent of any contaminants, contributing to the instant sample selections.Furthermore, we show that nucleic acid contents (dsDNAs, ssDNAs and miRNAs) stayed almost the same from surface to bottom (loam) layers (~1,500 ng (dsDNA), ~5,000 ng (ssDNA), ~4,000 ng (miRNA) per mL of the 20% (w/v) soil solutions), possibly implying that nucleic acids might have migrated vertically between strata during a long period via natural phenomena such as rainfall permeation into the soil.This extraction-free quantification method is notably characteristic in its rapidity, simplicity as well as accuracy, hopefully paving the way for future advances in archaeological science and its related area.

Source: Annals of Biomedical Research

DOI: 10.61545/abr-4-124