This is the definitive source of information on techniques for the identification and sequencing of old DNA (pieces) and their use in biological and medical research and application. Application of aDNA techniques are useful tools for investigations reaching from evolutionary studies to law enforcement approaches. What brings them together is the interest in specific methods of handling aDNA, i.e. elaborated PCR and sequencing techniques and the interpretation of the results. This books serves as an ideal guideline for it demonstrates how problem-solving strategies can be applied in various areas.

The book explores the fundamental principles, advances in forensic techniques, and its application on forensic DNA analysis. The book is divided into three modules; the first module provides the historical prospect of forensic DNA typing and introduces fundamentals of forensic DNA typing, methodology, and technical advancements, application of STRs, and DNA databases for forensic DNA profile analysis. Module 2 examines the problems and challenges encountered in extracting DNA and generating DNA profiles. It provides information on the methods and the best practices for DNA isolation from forensic biological samples and human remains like ancient DNA, DNA typing of skeletal remains and disaster victim identification, the importance of DNA typing in human trafficking, and various problems associated with capillary electrophoresis. Module 3 emphasizes various technologies that are based on SNPs, STRs namely Y-STR, X-STR, mitochondrial DNA profiling in forensic science. Module 4 explores the application of non-human forensic DNA typing of domestic animals, wildlife forensics, plant DNA fingerprinting, and microbial forensics. The last module discusses new areas and alternative methods in forensic DNA typing, including Next-Generation Sequencing, and its utility in forensic science, oral microbes, and forensic DNA phenotyping. Given its scope, the book is a useful resource in the field of DNA fingerprinting for scientists, forensic experts, and students at the postgraduate level.

Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing is written with a broad viewpoint. It examines the methods of current forensic DNA typing, focusing on short tandem repeats (STRs). It encompasses current forensic DNA analysis methods, as well as biology, technology and genetic interpretation. This book reviews the methods of forensic DNA testing used in the first two decades since early 1980's, and it offers perspectives on future trends in this field, including new genetic markers and new technologies. Furthermore, it explains the process of DNA testing from collection of samples through DNA extraction, DNA quantitation, DNA amplification, and statistical interpretation. The book also discusses DNA databases, which play an important role in law enforcement investigations. In addition, there is a discussion about ethical concerns in retaining DNA profiles and the issues involved when people use a database to search for close relatives. Students of forensic DNA analysis, forensic scientists, and members of the law enforcement and legal professions who want to know more about STR typing will find this book invaluable. - Includes a glossary with over 400 terms for quick reference of unfamiliar terms as well as an acronym guide to decipher the DNA dialect - Continues in the style of Forensic DNA Typing, 2e, with high-profile cases addressed in D.N.A.Boxes-- "Data, Notes & Applications" sections throughout - Ancillaries include: instructor manual Web site, with tailored set of 1000+ PowerPoint slides (including figures), links to online training websites and a test bank with key

A state-of-the-art collection of readily reproducible laboratory methods for DNA identity analysis, including Y chromosome haplotyping, mtDNA, and SNP typing. The book offers well-tested protocols for DNA quantification using real-time PCR on forensic samples and for the determination of the number of amelogenine gene copies. For forensic geneticists, there are readily reproducible methods for species identification, ancient DNA, and pharmacogenetics. Additional chapters address new applications in the forensic genetics lab, such a species identification or typing of CYP polymorphisms for the analysis of adverse to drugs.

Intended as a companion to the Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing volume published in 2009, Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing: Methodology contains 18 chapters with 4 appendices providing up-to-date coverage of essential topics in this important field and citation to more than 2800 articles and internet resources. The book builds upon the previous two editions of John Butler's internationally acclaimed Forensic DNA Typing textbook with forensic DNA analysts as its primary audience. This book provides the most detailed information written to-date on DNA databases, low-level DNA, validation, and numerous other topics including a new chapter on legal aspects of DNA testing to prepare scientists for expert witness testimony. Over half of the content is new compared to previous editions. A forthcoming companion volume will cover interpretation issues. - Contains the latest information - hot-topics and new technologies - Well edited, attractively laid out, and makes productive use of its four-color format - Author John Butler is ranked as the number one "high-impact author in legal medicine and forensic science, 2001 to 2011" by ScienceWatch.com

Only recently was it determined that two of the world's most devastating plagues, the plague of Justinian and the medieval Black Death, were caused by distinct strains of the same pathogen. Use of paleomicrobiological techniques led to this discovery. This work is just one example of the historical mysteries that this emerging field has helped to clarify. Others, such as when tuberculosis began to afflict humans, the role of lice in plague pandemics, and the history of smallpox, are explored and further illuminated in Paleomicrobiology of Humans. Led by editors Michel Drancourt and Didier Raoult, the book's expert contributors address larger issues using paleomicrobiology. These include the recognition of human remains associated with epidemic outbreaks, identification of the graves of disasters, and the discovery of demographic structures that reveal the presence of an epidemic moment. In addition, the book reviews the technical approaches and controversies associated with recovering and sequencing very old DNA and surveys modern human diseases that have ancient roots. Essentially, paleomicrobiologists aim to identify past epidemics at the crossroads of different specialties, including anthropology, medicine, molecular biology, and microbiology. Thus, this book is of great interest not only to microbiologists but to medical historians and anthropologists as well. Paleomicrobiology of Humans is the first comprehensive book to examine so many aspects of this new, multidisciplinary, scientific field.

A Companion to Paleopathology offers a comprehensive overview of this rapidly growing sub- field of physical anthropology. Presents a broad overview of the field of paleopathology, integrating theoretical and methodological approaches to understand biological and disease processes throughout human history Demonstrates how paleopathology sheds light on the past through the analysis of human and non-human skeletal materials, mummified remains and preserved tissue Integrates scientific advances in multiple fields that contribute to the understanding of ancient and historic diseases, such as epidemiology, histology, radiology, parasitology, dentistry, and molecular biology, as well as archaeological, archival and historical research. Highlights cultural processes that have an impact on the evolution of illness, death and dying in human populations, including subsistence strategies, human environmental adaptations, the effects of malnutrition, differential access to resources, and interpersonal and intercultural violence

Children existed in ancient times as active participants in the societies in which they lived and the cultures they belonged to. Despite their various roles, and in spite of the demographic composition of ancient societies where children comprised a large percentage of the population, children are almost completely missing in many current archaeological discourses. To remedy this, The Archaeology of Childhood aims to instigate interdisciplinary dialogues between archaeologists and other disciplines on the notion of childhood and children and to develop theoretical and methodological approaches to analyze the archaeological record in order to explore and understand children and their role in the formation of past cultures. Contributors consider how the notion of childhood can be expressed in artifacts and material records and examine how childhood is described in literary and historical sources of people from different regions and cultures. While we may never be able to reconstruct every last aspect of what childhood was like in the past, this volume argues that we can certainly bring children back into archaeological thinking and research, and correct many erroneous and gender-biased interpretations.

The Human Genome Project completed sequencing the entire human genetic code in 2003, two years ahead of schedule. That brisk pace has characterized the private genomics industry as well, with prices for personal sequencing dropping from tens of thousands to only hundreds of dollars in less than a decade. Through this collection of articles, readers will recognize how DNA testing has opened new doors in medicine and science, as well as sparked new questions about medical ethics, human ancestry, and the self.

Molecular methodologies are crucial to our understanding of human population diversity, as well as our evolutionary relationships with nonhuman primates. The completion of the Human Genome Project has given researchers a complete human reference sequence of genes. Combined with very important advances in sequencing and bioinformatics technologies, genetic research projects are now of a multidisciplinary nature. Anthropologists have the tools to seek information related to questions concerning the origin of the human species. Genomics in Biological Anthropology: New Challenges, New Opportunities explores the impact of new advances in molecular methods, such as DNA sequencing, amplification and analysis on our knowledge about the genetics of prehistoric and existing humans. Topics covered in this volume include an overview of genomic projects, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, ancient DNA, mutation rates in chromosome Y, genomics of isolated populations, complex phenotypes and forensic anthropology. This volume is a concise primer for students and general readers learning the basics about human genetics, human evolution and biological anthropology