Ancient DNA & Forensics Lab

Catalog description

This class teaches laboratory techniques in ancient DNA and forensics for recovery of DNA from skeletal material as well as PCR amplification, purification and DNA sequencing and genotyping. Students begin by extracting and testing their own cheek-swab DNA to master some of the basic lab and analytical skills. Then students are given unknown ancient animal skeletal samples and have the rest of the semester to identify the species of each sample by extracting DNA from them and analyzing the data in comparison with genbank data. Variable credits, should be taken for