DNA Question?

Question

How long does viable DNA survive in human remains?

Answer 1

It depends on the type of DNA. Mitochondriol DNA, which is the DNA found in the mitochondrion, survives for infinite amount of time. This is because it's small and protected through the mitochondrion, it's similar to the DNA of bacterial cells. Mitochondrion are theorized to be a bacterial cell that infected human cells and give us energy. Mitochondriol DNA comes from out mother, so we can trace maternal lineage through it.

Somatic DNA, or "normal" nuclear DNA has a shorter life because it can easily be degraded and denatured. At times, some of it does last but in pieces. It does survive, but the conditions must be right to allow it to survive. It can be removed from bone after death, but must be done carefully because it is very fragile.

Good luck!

Answer 2

for as long as you keep decomposers away from the remains.

edit: ok, so what i mean is DNA is chemically stable. That is, it will not break down on its own under normal conditions. Extremes in environment can break it down but when you're talking about human remains, they are normally destroyed by 'decomposers'. This is a biological term for any organism that recycles organic material for further use (e.g. certain bacteria). As long as you keep decomposers away from the remains (presserve it chemically or by freezing) and keep the remains at normal atmospheric temperature and pressure DNA will effectively last forever.

Answer 3

Depending on conditions
For example sailors who died of Pandemic in 1918 were frozen in arctic and thats how the CD figured out from their DNA what the viral makeup of this virus was, at the World TRdae CEnter, the DNA was burned or dried too much....

Answer 4

From what I understand DNA stays around as long as there is something to sample...

Answer 5

Forever

Answer 6

I think, at least, hundreds of years. Specifically tooth and bone marrow.

Answer 7

As long as they have skin.