DNA extraction from human bones: revision of the protocol proposed by Hochmeister et al.

Present work involved the development of a new DNA extraction method, suggested for biological matrices represented by human skeletal remains. The protocol used at our laboratory in the extraction of DNA from bone matrix and followed in setting up the proposed new method, was represented by by Hochmeister et al.. The new experimental protocol has seen the introduction of some changes compared to the old method, which mainly involved the preparation of the bone sample (pre-extraction phase), concentrations of bone powder, volumes and pH of the solutions used, temperatures - incubation times, and, finally, the speed (rpm) and the centrifugation time. The new experimental protocol allowed to achieve quantitatively higher results, in terms of STR markers detected during capillary electrophoresis compared to the old protocol using the same bone matrix analyzed.