The broader implications of the technique for ancient DNA research are significant.

The ability to recover autosomal DNA from highly degraded material in quantities sufficient for relationship analysis means that samples previously considered too degraded for meaningful study may be revisitable using these methods.

This has potential applications in archaeology, in forensic science, and specifically in repatriation contexts — where the ability to genetically confirm relationships between museum-held remains and living descendants could provide an additional form of evidence supporting repatriation claims.

It also raises ethical questions that the research community is actively working through.