Non Potluck: aDNA from tropical environments?

The authors of this recent study in AJPA compared the performance of two different methods for extracting aDNA, specifically from hot, humid environments.  Samples came from several

archaeological sites and from a chimpanzee tooth collected in Tanzania in 1966.  Their results indicated that both the creatively named Method D and Method H were similarly effective in recovering aDNA.  However, Method H produced sequences with both higher endogenous content and clonality, while Method D produced shorter fragments.  The authors argue that because aDNA is highly fragmented in these environments, that Method D (the simpler one) is preferred.  They do acknowledge that these results are only from teeth, and that other material may yield different results.  Interesting nontheless.

(AJPA post 3/3)