Skeletal remains, teeth, hair, and fingernails are samples that often contain very limited quantities of DNA and incur DNA damage and degradation due to environmental, bacterial, and post-mortem insults. Several components of bone, hair, and teeth also act as potent inhibitors of PCR, including collagen, calcium ions, melanin, and humic acids found in soil. In order to effectively extract the available genetic material, matrix- embedded cells must be released and PCR inhibitors efficiently removed.