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Ancient DNA pp 37–42Cite as

Extraction of DNA from Paleofeces

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 840))

Abstract

Paleofeces are the nonmineralized remains of dung from extant and extinct fauna. They represent a surprisingly large proportion of fossil remains recovered from cave sites across the world. Paleofeces contain the DNA of the defecator as well as the DNA of ingested plant and animal remains. To successfully extract DNA from paleofeces, a balance must be achieved between the minimization of DNA loss during extraction and the removal of coeluates that would otherwise inhibit the Taq DNA polymerase during downstream applications. Here we present a simplified version of a protocol to extract DNA from paleofecal remains.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Melanie Kuch & Hendrik Poinar

Authors
  1. Melanie Kuch
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  2. Hendrik Poinar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hendrik Poinar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biolog, University of California Santa Cruz, A414 Earth & Marine Sciences, Santa Cruz, 16802, California, USA

    Beth Shapiro

  2. , Department of Biology (Area 2), University of York, Heslington, York, YO 105DD, United Kingdom

    Michael Hofreiter

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Kuch, M., Poinar, H. (2012). Extraction of DNA from Paleofeces. In: Shapiro, B., Hofreiter, M. (eds) Ancient DNA. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 840. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-516-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-516-9_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-515-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-516-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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