Sains Malaysiana 43(10)(2014): 1523–1535

Molecular Mitochondrial DNA and Radiographic Approaches for

Human Archaeology Identification

(Pendekatan Molekular DNA Mitokondria dan Radiografi untuk Pengenalpastian Arkeologi Manusia)

RUS DINA RUS DIN², SHAHRUL HISHAM ZAINAL ARIFFIN²*, SAHIDAN SENAFI², ROHAYA MEGAT ABDUL WAHAB¹ & INTAN ZARINA ZAINOL ABIDIN²

¹Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 14 July 2013/Accepted: 21 February 2014

ABSTRACT

Ancient remains are considered very valuable artefacts, as they allow for the study of ancient cultures, phylogeny, evolution and the reconstruction of demographic history. To obtain all the information contained within remains, the investigation of such samples requires the expertise and various techniques from multiple fields of study. The present review focuses on the molecular biology and radiographic approaches used to identify ancient samples. Studies of ancient remains face various limitations; for example, the quality and quantity of the ancient samples can affect the difficulty of the investigations. Due to these limitations, new sophisticated techniques are being introduced to replace the earlier conventional techniques. A search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Science Finder to provide a new and timely review on the molecular mitochondrial DNA and radiographic analysis for human archaeology identification. The present review has determined that molecular biological approaches are very accurate and useful for the use in the ancestral determination of incomplete specimens, whereas observations of the dental pulp chamber are suitable for age at death estimations in both adults and children. However, these techniques are expensive and require expert personnel. Therefore, conventional approaches remain the favourite methods of most institutions, especially in Asia.

Keywords: Ancestral and age; human archaeology; molecular analysis; radiographic approach

ABSTRAK

Sampel purba dianggap artifak yang sangat berharga kerana ia membolehkan kajian mengenai budaya purba, filogenetik, evolusi dan penyusunan semula sejarah demografi. Bagi mendapatkan semua maklumat yang terkandung di dalam tinggalan, kajian sampel tersebut memerlukan kepakaran dan pelbagai teknik daripada pelbagai bidang kajian. Penyelidikan ini memfokus kepada pendekatan biologi molekul dan radiografi yang digunakan untuk mengenal pasti sampel purba. Kajian tinggalan purba berdepan dengan pelbagai batasan; sebagai contoh, kualiti dan kuantiti sampel purba boleh memberi kesan kepada tahap kesukaran kajian. Akibat daripada batasan ini, teknik baru yang canggih telah diperkenalkan untuk menggantikan teknik konvensional. Pencarian telah dilakukan menggunakan PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct dan Science Finder bagi memberikan penilaian yang terbaru terhadap analisis molekul DNA mitokondria dan radiografi untuk mengenal pasti arkeologi manusia. Penilaian ini mendapati pendekatan terkini biologi molekul dalam menentukan keturunan adalah sangat tepat dan berguna terhadap spesimen yang tidak lengkap manakala pemerhatian bagi ruang pulpa gigi adalah sesuai untuk menganggar umur semasa kematian terhadap kedua-dua orang dewasa dan kanak-kanak. Walau bagaimanapun, teknik tersebut adalah mahal dan memerlukan individu pakar. Oleh itu, pendekatan konvensional kekal sebagai kaedah yang digemari dalam kebanyakan institusi terutamanya di Asia.

Kata kunci: Analisis molekul; arkeologi manusia; keturunan dan umur; pendekatan radiografi

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*Corresponding author; email: hisham@ukm.edu.my