Bone is one of the most challenging substrates in forensic and anthropological DNA work. The mineralised matrix that makes bone durable also binds and degrades DNA over time, and the same inorganic compounds that protect bone in life act as potent inhibitors of the PCR reactions you are trying to run downstream.

Conventional approaches involve extended Proteinase K digestion (sometimes overnight), followed by organic extraction or column purification to remove the inhibitors. Even then, yields from degraded or ancient bone are often low and inconsistent.

boneGEM applies the same enzymatic, temperature-driven principle as the rest of the Exymes range to this specific substrate. The formulation is optimised for bone powder, bone dust, bone plugs, and bone fragments, and it runs on a standard thermal cycler in around 20 minutes.

The absence of organic solvents and chaotropic salts means the inhibitor burden introduced by the extraction process itself is reduced. Combined with the single-tube approach and no transfer steps, the risk of sample loss or cross-contamination at the extraction stage is minimised.