Year of Award
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Name
Anthropology (Forensic Anthropology Option)
Other Degree Name/Area of Focus
Forensic and Molecular Anthropology
Department or School/College
Department of Anthropology
Committee Chair
Meradeth Snow
Commitee Members
Anna Prentiss, Kelly Dixon, Mark Heirigs, Sheree Hughes
Keywords
DNA Quantification, Human Remains, Identification, Molecular Anthropology, Skeletal DNA, STR Analysis
Abstract
Human identification is a central goal of forensic anthropology and forensic molecular anthropology, particularly when remains are skeletonized, fragmented, degraded, or otherwise visually unidentifiable. Although skeletal elements such as teeth, the petrous portion of the temporal bone, and major long bones are commonly prioritized for DNA sampling, they are not always available, intact, or suitable for destructive analysis. This dissertation evaluates DNA preservation across the post-cranial skeleton to determine whether anatomical location, biological sex, and age-at-death influence DNA quantity and downstream forensic genetic success.
Surface cortical bone samples were collected from predetermined anatomical locations across four modern skeletonized individuals. DNA was extracted from powdered bone and analyzed using quantitative PCR, capillary electrophoresis short tandem repeat analysis, and next-generation sequencing using the ForenSeq® MainstAY workflow on the MiSeq FGx® system. Quantification served as the primary dataset for evaluating recoverable human DNA, while STR and sequencing results were used to assess whether recovered DNA produced usable forensic genetic information. Results were then translated into skeletal DNA maps to visualize high- and low-performing sampling locations.
The results demonstrate that DNA preservation is not uniform across the skeleton. Anatomical location was the strongest and most consistent factor influencing DNA recovery, with significant differences in normalized DNA quantity across sampled locations. In contrast, biological sex and age-at-death did not significantly influence DNA yield in this dataset. STR and sequencing results generally supported the quantification findings by showing that location-based differences in DNA recovery often affected downstream profile and locus recovery, although the three methods did not always produce identical patterns.
These findings support the use of skeletal DNA mapping as an evidence-based tool for forensic sampling decisions. By identifying anatomical locations with stronger DNA recovery potential, this research may help practitioners select more effective sampling sites when preferred elements are unavailable or must be preserved. Ultimately, this dissertation contributes to forensic molecular anthropology by demonstrating that skeletal DNA sampling should not be treated as random or equally productive across the skeleton. Instead, anatomical location should be considered a major factor in developing targeted, conservative, and minimally destructive strategies for human identification.
Recommended Citation
Ward, Mykala Denise, "SKELETAL DNA MAPPING OF THE POST-CRANIAL SKELETON FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS IN A MODERN FORENSIC CONTEXT" (2026). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12698.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12698
© Copyright 2026 Mykala Denise Ward