When ancient DNA is obtained from dental remains by bone milling, crushing and sectioning, the morphologically informative crown and roots sustain damage which renders them of little or no further use to other investigators. The newly patented Reverse-Root-Canal technique makes it possible to obtain dentin rich in nucleic acids without damaging the teeth. This new non-destructive method to obtain dentin containing ancient DNA could, in effect, multiply the meager supply of ancient dental remains that are available.
Ancient Biomolecules
Volume 4, 2002 - Issue 4