this is a serious question, i really want to know.
2006-09-23 15:28:50 · 19 answers · asked by jay_hargrave@sbcglobal.net 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
My wife works for a funeral home and no DNA cannot be found in ashes. The intense heat destroys all the nucleic acids and breaks them down to their original forms- carbon. Carbon burns, and is destroyed, just like burning a piece of paper, all that is left is ash.
2006-09-24 20:23:40 · answer #1 · answered by tbone608 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not from ashes. It can be only extracted from living cells. Sometimes parts of bones can be found among ashes if cremation wasn't full. From those bones DNA can be extracted but only if genetic material wasn't destroyed. Best would be to contact a serious laboratory, like of criminal medicine. It depends what do you need this information for. If the reason is sound they would tell you whom to contact and where and how much it would cost.
2006-09-24 05:40:17 · answer #2 · answered by maglewand 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Search for Cremation on Wikipedia.com
I don't know 2 ,much about dna and organic materials even tho that might be true but what I do know is that even if it couldit would be difficult becuase there will always be ashes of the remains of other deceased people who were cremeated mixed in those ashes. So on that basis alone I would think no.
2006-09-23 15:33:56 · answer #3 · answered by Gifted and Gracious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cremation would definitely destroy DNA. The structure of DNA is what provides the information, and proteins lose their shape under intense heat or pH. As for the body, my guess would be as long as the wood stays intact. When the wood is rotten the body will be decomposed and digested by microorganisms and worms, thus digesting and destroying the DNA. Neanderthal DNA, on the other hand, is found in cold regions where ice and permafrost has preserved the remains. I'm skeptical about the claims in finding dinosaur DNA. I don't believe it can last that long. Think about it: cancer is caused by mutations in the DNA, and cancer shows itself within lifetimes.
2016-03-27 05:46:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
DNA cannot be taken from ashes. If there were a trace, it might even be from the casket material which failed to burn. Ashes are not going to have DNA.
2006-09-23 15:42:22 · answer #5 · answered by Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it, because all ofthe organic material would be burned during the cremation process.
2006-09-23 15:30:05 · answer #6 · answered by Cameron L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not if the cremation was done property and completely
2006-09-23 15:31:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
that is a really good question.. but all the organic has burned
so all is left are ashes,, so sorry....
2006-09-23 15:31:56 · answer #8 · answered by E.M. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no b cuz when u burn someone thers nothin but ashes, ur skin can't hold dna thru fire...sorry,,,,,,j/w.,.,.,.,y did u kill someone and burn them? b cuz this is a strange ? and i really want to know.
2006-09-23 15:31:40 · answer #9 · answered by just to help :) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the ashes are too degraded.
2006-09-23 16:24:36 · answer #10 · answered by Shaman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋