Extracting DNA from hair without roots - (May/21/2007 )

Hi all: my lab primarily uses the Qiagen DNEasy Tissue kit for extractions. I am trying to optimize this protocol to work with hairs that do NOT contain any root material. If anybody has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Angela

-loongirl-

why would there be DNA in hairs that do not have root material??

-beccaf22-

To extract any DNA from hair it must have the follicule, if not..sorry but you dont have a thing. When extracting hair make sure that you have at least 4-5 with the follicule visible and can be store in a chelex soln. until use.

-merlav-

QUOTE (merlav @ May 22 2007, 01:35 PM)

In forensics it is possible for mtDNA but it is difficult.

"On the other hand, shed (telogen) hairs,
which are often associated with a crime, may harbor no nuclear
material. While the nucleus degrades as the hair shaft hardens during
keratinization, cellular mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA) remain relatively intact, making mtDNA analysis of hair
shafts possible"
From: J Forensic Sci, Sept. 2005, Vol. 50, No. 5: A Simplified Method for Mitochondrial DNA Extraction from Head Hair Shafts
I can post pdf if someone needs, but it seems free for download via google.

-hobglobin-

Hi all: These hairs are used in wildlife forensic research. Without roots we are able to get a decent amount of mtDNA and a very small amount (not really enough to be useful) of genomic DNA for msat work. I agree that there might not be much more I can accomplish without a root, but thought I'd ask anyway Thanks for the replies!

-loongirl-