The majority of DNA in saliva comes from white blood cells. However, saliva also contains bacteria, so when extracting DNA from saliva, bacterial DNA is recovered alongside the human DNA.
Here's a breakdown of the DNA found in saliva:
- Human DNA: Primarily from white blood cells, which are part of the immune system and are present in saliva.
- Bacterial DNA: From various bacteria that naturally live in the mouth.
Important Note: While saliva is a convenient source of DNA for genetic testing, the presence of bacterial DNA can sometimes complicate the process, requiring specialized techniques to isolate and analyze human DNA.
