Target Capture for Ancient DNA: Temperature, Time, and Tiling Density

Summary

Bait-target hybridization (a.k.a., "target capture") is rapidly replacing PCR as the enrichment method of choice for ancient DNA sequencing projects. Though very successful in recent years, ancient DNA target capture outcomes vary substantially and could be better understood. Here we performed a series of experiments to measure how three commonly-varied parameters - temperature, time, and bait tiling density - impact enrichment of short, rare targets embedded in complex DNA backgrounds. We found that specificity (% on-target) and sensitivity (unique target reads recovered) varied with these parameters, sometimes in unexpected ways. Temperature was particularly impactful across the range typically employed in ancient DNA research (~45-65ºC), and should be carefully considered when designing or optimizing an ancient DNA enrichment project.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

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