Big advance in DNA amplification technology for better assessment of degraded DNA

[Wise Young]

http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/va...s/nbt1321.html

Letter abstract

Nature Biotechnology
Published online: 15 July 2007 | doi:10.1038/nbt1321

Molecular breeding of polymerases for amplification of ancient DNA

Marc d'Abbadie1, Michael Hofreiter2, Alexandra Vaisman3, David Loakes1, Didier Gasparutto4, Jean Cadet4, Roger Woodgate3, Svante Pääbo2 & Philipp Holliger1
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In the absence of repair, lesions accumulate in DNA. Thus, DNA persisting in specimens of paleontological, archaeological or forensic interest is inevitably damaged1. We describe a strategy for the recovery of genetic information from damaged DNA. By molecular breeding2 of polymerase genes from the genus Thermus (Taq (Thermus aquaticus), Tth (Thermus thermophilus) and Tfl (Thermus flavus)) and compartmentalized self-replication3, 4 selection, we have evolved polymerases that can extend single, double and even quadruple mismatches, process non-canonical primer-template duplexes and bypass lesions found in ancient DNA, such as hydantoins and abasic sites. Applied to the PCR amplification of 47,000–60,000-year-old cave bear DNA, these outperformed Taq DNA polymerase by up to 150% and yielded amplification products at sample dilutions at which Taq did not. Our results demonstrate that engineered polymerases can expand the recovery of genetic information from Pleistocene specimens and may benefit genetic analysis in paleontology, archeology and forensic medicine.
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[Lindox]

The software being developed in this field is ever so exciting and advancing by leaps and bounds.

All across the board.