Sampling and Extraction of Ancient DNA from Sediments

Abstract

Environmental DNA preserved in sediments is rapidly gaining importance as a tool in paleoecology. Sampling procedures for sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) have to be well planned to ensure clean subsampling of the inside of sediment cores and avoid introducing contamination. Additionally, ancient DNA extraction protocols may need to be optimized for the recovery of DNA from sediments, which may contain inhibitors. Here we describe procedures for subsampling both nonfrozen and frozen sediment cores, and we describe an efficient method for ancient DNA extraction from such samples.

Keywords: Environmental DNA (eDNA); Metabarcoding; Metagenomics; Permafrost; Sediment cores; Sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA).