IDENTIFICATION OF ANIMAL ADHESIVES USING DNA AMPLIFICATION

The aim of this study was to examine whether DNA was degraded in the manufacturing of animal glue. To test this, two different types of sturgeon glue (Acipenser sp.) were manufactured using historic recipes. One glue was boiled for a substantial amount of time and the other was kept under 75°C. DNA samples were collected from both glues in order to test whether the DNA was degraded in the heating process of making the glue. It was also tested whether two different kinds of flex canvas (for paintings), one coarse and one fine weaved would inhibit the PCR reaction. To do this the glue were applied onto the canvas and samples were collected. To examine the sample size needed to get an amplifiable DNA sample, different sizes were collected of the canvas, 1.0cm2; 0,5cm2 and 0,5cm of a single thread. It was possible to get amplifiable DNA in 11 out of 12 samples collected after the manufacturing of the glue and in 18 out of 24 samples collected of the canvas. In four out of the five cases where it was not possible amplify DNA, the sample belongs to the smallest size of the canvas investigated.
As shown in this study it is possible to get DNA out of boiled animal glue and glue applied onto canvas. The application of a DNA techniques provides several new possibilities for further material analysis of (pre)historic artefacts.