Abstract
Research investigating DNA recovery from samples exposed to seawater is lacking and limited to artificial or semi-realistic environments. This pilot study assessed DNA recovery from pig (Sus scrofa) teeth (n = 28) submerged in-situ in a natural marine environment of South Africa. Amplification of nuclear DNA was successful in 60% (17/28) of samples for a 96 bp fragment, and in 46% (13/28) for 200 bp fragment. By comparison, mitochondrial DNA was detected in 57% (16/28) for a 486 bp fragment. DNA was more consistently amplified in teeth submerged during winter, suggesting colder seawater temperatures contributed towards DNA preservation. Non-specific amplification was linked to a marine microbe origin. The hypothesis being marine bacteria may contribute towards DNA degradation. The study demonstrates the complexity in understanding the effect seawater has on DNA recovery. Future research on human samples is required to improve success rates of identifying marine wash-ups.
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