On May 18, 2000, two bone samples from the Kennewick collection - a right eighth rib [Catalog 97.I.12d(13)] and a left third metacarpal (MC3) [Catalog 97.L.16(Mca)] - were transferred to the laboratory of D. Andrew Merriwether for ancient DNA analysis. Three people with extensive ancient DNA research experience were involved in the subsequent analysis of these samples: the principal investigator, D. Andrew Merriwether, a doctoral student, Graciela Cabana, and a laboratory technician, John McDonough. Ancient DNA analysis of the Kennewick samples included five separate extractions using four different extraction procedures and multiple DNA amplification attempts using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on these extractions.
We were unable to successfully amplify any ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using standard methods. We conclude that if any DNA remains in these particular samples, it is inaccessible via current standard methods, but may be accessible and analyzable in the future using novel methods. Because we did not obtain positive results in this analysis, this report consists primarily of a detailed description of the methods used and explanation of the results obtained. We attach as appendices (1) a log of electrophoresis gel images documenting the results of PCRs on these samples (Appendix 1), (2) a photographic log of procedures described in the text of this report (Appendix 2), and electropherograms documenting the contaminating sequences (Appendix 3).
Archeology Program Kennewick Man
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http://www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/kennewick/>Kennewick Man