Attempted DNA extraction from a R ancho L a B rea C olumbian mammoth ( M ammuthus columbi ): prospects for ancient DNA from asphalt deposits

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 4; no. 4; pp. 329 - 336
• Main Authors: Gold, David A., Robinson, Jacqueline, Farrell, Aisling B., Harris, John M., Thalmann, Olaf, Jacobs, David K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2014
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.928

Abstract Fossil‐bearing asphalt deposits are an understudied and potentially significant source of ancient DNA . Previous attempts to extract DNA from skeletons preserved at the R ancho L a B rea tar pits in L os A ngeles, C alifornia, have proven unsuccessful, but it is unclear whether this is due to a lack of endogenous DNA , or if the problem is caused by asphalt‐mediated inhibition. In an attempt to test these hypotheses, a recently recovered C olumbian mammoth ( M ammuthus columbi ) skeleton with an unusual pattern of asphalt impregnation was studied. Ultimately, none of the bone samples tested successfully amplified M . columbi DNA . Our work suggests that reagents typically used to remove asphalt from ancient samples also inhibit DNA extraction. Ultimately, we conclude that the probability of recovering ancient DNA from fossils in asphalt deposits is strongly (perhaps fatally) hindered by the organic compounds that permeate the bones and that at the R ancho L a B rea tar pits, environmental conditions might not have been ideal for the general preservation of genetic material.