Sequencing mtDNA of the cave bear Ursus spelaeus from the Bavarian Alps isfeasible by nested and touchdown PCR

Ancient DNA from bones of the extinct Ursus spelaeus Rosamueller et Hainrot h, 1794 found in the Bavarian Alps has been amplified by PCR. Two out of fi ve samples yielded a distinct band. of 135 bp originating from the mtDNA co ntrol region. A combination of nested and touchdown PCR supported the ampli fication. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed four transitions co mpared to the French cave bear sequence, the only cave bear data known so f ar (Genbank database X80259, AF121779). The consensus distant; matrix tree clustered the two cave bears next to the brown bear Ursus arclos Linnaeus, 1758.