Service: Amino acid racemization analysis (AAR)
Platforms
Fixlab
Techniques
Amino acid racemization analysis (aar)
Reference
The chiral amino acid analysis possible in our facility allows age estimation in fossil samples through amino acid racemization (AAR) alongside other measures of protein breakdown, giving a measure of intra-crystalline protein degradation (IcPD)
Amino acid dating, which depends on the predictable breakdown of proteins within fossil biominerals, spans the whole of the Quaternary time period. As the integrity of the original organic fraction is of vital importance, in recent years significant advances have been made in analysing closed-system protein by isolating protein trapped within the biomineral crystals, circumventing problems due to contamination, leaching and environmental effects. The chiral amino acid analysis possible in our facility allows age estimation in fossil samples through amino acid racemization (AAR) alongside other measures of protein breakdown, giving a measure of intra-crystalline protein degradation (IcPD). NEaar provides world-leading expertise in sample preparation and analysis of protein within the complex matrices encountered in earth and archaeological science
Material must be organic in nature
Fields of application
Archaeology
Archaeozoology
Materials
Animal Parts
Binding media
Animal Product
Botanic Collection
Coral
Fossil
Skeleton
Shell
Methods
Tools