A mixed DNA profile controversy revisited

Semaan et al. (J Forensic Res, 2020, 11, 453) discuss a mock case “where eight different individuals [P₁ through P₈] could not be excluded in a mixed DNA analysis. Even though … expert DNA mixture analysis software was used.” Two of these are the true donors. The LRs reported are incorrect due to the incorrect entry of propositions into LRmix Studio. This forced the software to account for most of the alleles as drop-in, resulting in LRs 60–70 orders of magnitude larger than expected. P₁, P₂, P₄, P₅, and P₈ can be manually excluded using peak heights. This has relevance when using LRmix which does not use peak heights. We extend the work using the same two reference genotypes who were the true contributors as Semaan et al. (J Forensic Res, 2020, 11, 453). We simulate three two-donor mixtures with peak heights using these two genotypes and analyze using STRmix?. For the simulated 1:1 mixture, one of the non-donors’ LRs supported him being a contributor when no conditioning was used. When considered in combination with any other potential donors (i.e., with conditioning), this non-donor was correctly eliminated. For the 3:1 mixture, all results correctly supported that the non-donors were not contributors. The low-template 4:1 mixture LRs with no conditioning showed support for all eight profiles as donors. However, the results from pair-wise conditioning showed that only the two ground truth donors had LRs supporting that they were contributors to the mixture. We recommend the use of peak heights and conditioning profiles, as this allows better sensitivity and specificity even when the persons share many alleles.     

Fluorescence of a Natural Fluorophore as a Key to Improve Fingerprint Contrast Image

The optical and morphological properties of resveratrol were investigated. This nontoxic fluorescent natural material, emitting in the visible blue light, was used as an optical marker, enabling the enhancement of the image contrast coming from relief pictures marked on challenging surfaces. By applying appropriated imaging softwares, this marker was verified to be very useful in the latent fingerprint recognition deposited on different wood surface types, mainly those with high level of roughness, where conventional forensic materials do not allow effective fingerprint image visualization.     

Molecular Identification of Necrophagous Dermestes Species in South Korea Using Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I Nucleotide Sequences (Genus Dermestes)

Species identification of necrophagous insects found on a dead body is an essential key in applying medicolegal entomology to the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI). Due to limited morphological identification of insect evidence, several studies have identified species using molecular information such as DNA markers. While considerable cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence data of necrophagous fly species have been collected and annotated, those of necrophagous beetle species have not. Since necrophagous beetles such as Dermestes species have a larval period longer than that of flies, beetles are useful in even the late decomposition phase in estimating minimum PMI. To obtain the full-length COI gene sequences of six Dermestes species collected from South Korea, we designed primers for polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. The obtained full COI nucleotide sequences were used for performing phylogenic analysis and comparison with previously reported sequences. The results demonstrated that the COI gene sequences could be used to identify forensically important Dermestes species in South Korea.     

DNA Recovery From Tape-Lifting Kits: Methodology and Practice

In the case of suspicious deaths, the technique of 1:1 taping is often used in Belgium. It consists of affixing a large number of adhesive tapes to the body of the victim. It is conventionally aimed at obtaining microtraces (e.g., fibers, hair) and is usually not used for DNA analysis. However, in some cases, DNA analysis of certain areas of interest identified on the 1:1 taping material can offer a last resort solution. The four-step method that is described in this article involves the selection of areas of interest on the body (Step 1), the selection of the corresponding tapes (Step 2), the decontamination of the tapes (Step 3), the selection of areas of interest on the tapes, for DNA sampling (Step 4). The method is illustrated by its successful application in four murder cases. In each case, DNA profiles of good quality could be identified, including profiles of persons different from the victim.     

应用硅珠法提取陈旧骨骼DNA

骨骼相对于人体其他的组织脏器腐败降解慢,是进行高度腐败及白骨化样本DNA检验的唯一检材。但骨骼DNA的提取比较困难,本文运用传统的硅珠法提取骨骼DNA取得了很好的效果。1材料与方法1.1样本1~4年水浸泡、土埋的股骨、肱骨等样本,来自本实验室日常检案检材。1.2方法1.2.1骨骼DNA提取用水洗净骨骼表面,晾干。锯成小块,用锉打磨内外表面。去离子水、乙醇和5%bleach浸泡、晾干,磨成粉末。取骨粉5g;加入0.5mon/L EDTA(pH8.0)溶液,搅拌均匀置于摇床上脱钙12h,去离子水洗两遍,去上清,重复4次[1];沉渣中加入适量裂解液(6mon/L GuSCN,20mo…     

DNA commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics: Recommendations on the interpretation of mixtures

The DNA commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG) was convened at the 21st congress of the International Society for Forensic Genetics held between 13 and 17 September in the Azores, Portugal. The purpose of the group was to agree on guidelines to encourage best practice that can be universally applied to assist with mixture interpretation. In addition the commission was tasked to provide guidance on low copy number (LCN) reporting. Our discussions have highlighted a significant need for continuing education and research into this area. We have attempted to present a consensus from experts but to be practical we do not claim to have conveyed a clear vision in every respect in this difficult subject. For this reason, we propose to allow a period of time for feedback and reflection by the scientific community. Then the DNA commission will meet again to consider further recommendations.     

牛分枝杆菌esat-6和mpb70-mpb83基因DNA疫苗的免疫效果

用PCR技术和重叠延伸剪接技术获得牛分枝杆菌esat-6基因和mpb70-mpb83融合基因,连接真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+),构建了重组质粒pCE6和pC70-83-E6。分4组免疫小鼠:pCE6组、pC70-83-E6组、pcDNA3.1(+)和PBS对照组,采用间接ELISA法检测免疫小鼠血清特异性抗体水平,MTT法检测免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖情况和IFN-γ分泌情况。结果表明,2重组质粒免疫组小鼠的血清抗体水平持续上升,而2对照组始终维持在较低水平,且pC70-83-E6组小鼠的抗体水平高于pCE6组。经PPD刺激后,pCE6组和pC70-83-E6组小鼠的SI值与2对照组均差异显著(P<0.05),2重组质粒免疫组间差异不显著(P>0.05);2重组质粒免疫小鼠脾细胞产生的IFN-γ均显著高于2对照组(P<0.05),且pC70-83-E6组明显高于其他3组(P<0.05)。证实本试验构建的2种牛分枝杆菌DNA疫苗可有效诱导实验动物产生体液免疫和细胞免疫应答。     

Appeals to Reason

This article considers how statistical reasoning changes conceptions of evidence and proof. Beginning with three Court of Appeal judgments in which proof is quantified, it traces the implications of statistical ways of thinking about proof through the law of criminal evidence. This leads to the bizarre conclusion that proof is, by and large, impossible. The argument then takes a more constructive turn. The way in which the presumption of innocence is conceptualised in statistical argument is criticised and it is suggested that proof depends on a precondition of trust in the way suspects are selected by the police. For that trust to be deserved, police suspects must be chosen in a legitimate manner.     

用引物Y_3,Y_4和DNA扩增技术作血液(痕)和毛根性别鉴定的研究

作者用引物Y_3、Y_4和DNA聚合酶链式反应(PCR)作微量人类血液(痕)和毛根的性别鉴定。扩增的靶序列位于Y染色体DNA特异3.4kb重复序列中,扩增产物为460bp。检材用量为:新鲜血液0.5μl、血痕纱纤维1mm、毛根单个。20例保存4个月的血痕与2例保存6年半的血痕性别判定结果均正确,无性别记载的保存9～11年的3例血痕显现了清晰的460bpY特异DNA扩增带。15例保存20天的自然脱落毛根性别判定结果均正确。本法省略了检材处理中的酚-氯仿抽提DNA等纯化步骤,既简化了实验操作,又减少了检验过程中外源DNA的污染机会和样品DNA的损耗,使这一性别鉴定方法更符合法医学实践的需要。     

DNA技术侦破一特大系列强奸案

１案件资料近５年在沈阳市于洪区某地连续发生数十起强奸案，案犯体貌特征、作案手段相似，最显著的特征是“小平头”，因此将该系列案件称为“小平头”系列强奸案。该案引起了沈阳市各级公安部门的高度重视。１９９９年８月９日，“小平头”再次作案，将居住在于洪区的李某（女，１８岁）强奸。笔者对该案精斑进行９个STR位点的基因分型并存档，并以此为依据排除曹某等多名嫌疑人。２０００年７月５日，笔者对新发现的嫌疑人王某血样进行DNA鉴定，并与微机案件库中１９９９年８月９日李某被强奸案中精斑谱带比对，其结果见表１，表２．…