We prepared extracts from a sample of charred wheat grains, 2000 years in age, using a standard DNA preparation method in combination with various post-purification procedures designed to remove inhibitors of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting extracts gave amplification products when PCRs were directed at the Glu genes, which are located on the wheat nuclear genome. However, repeated attempts to amplify the chloroplast rbcL locus were unsuccessful with these extracts, even though the rbcL PCR system gave positive results with as little as 8.3 pg of modern DNA, compared with a detection limit of 53 pg for the Glu PCRs. We conclude that there is a differential preservation of nuclear and chloroplast DNA in charred wheat grains.
Preservation of Nuclear but not Chloroplast DNA in Archaeological Assemblages of Charred Wheat Grains
Reprints and Corporate Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:
Academic Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:
If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.
Related Research Data
Related research
People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.
Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.
Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.