A qualitative study of compact bone microstructure and nuclear short tandem repeat obtained from femur of human remains found on the ground and exhumed 3 years after death

Forensic identification of human remains is composed of anthropological study of race, sex, age, etc. By using these traditional methods, inconclusive or nonidentified cases could be subjected to DNA analysis. However, in spite of advances in human identification techniques, especially by PCR-amplified DNA, some limitations that affect the ability of obtaining DNA from human remains still persist. Light microscope sections of postmortem compact bones from human remains are presented here for the purpose of increasing a forensic examiner's prediction of successful nuclear DNA typing. Femoral compact bones were obtained from 7 human remains found on the ground, in different degrees of decomposition, and were cleaned by boiling to remove soft tissues, 8 collections of bones having undergone natural decomposition, not boiled (as no soft tissue was adhered), and 5 cadavers 12 to 16 hours postmortem. The histologic sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin, the loci CSF1PO, TPOX, TH01, F13A01, FESFPS, vWA, D16S539, D7S820, D13S317, and amelogenin were amplified by PCR, and the polyacrylamide gel was stained with silver. The results presented here clarify questions concerning the viability of DNA for identification analysis, and they also may help to establish better strategies for optimization of DNA extraction and analysis in compact bones of human remains.     

A new technology in mtDNA sequencing: Success rates vs time

Study of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region is a current practice in forensic genetics. In our service, mtDNA analysis is performed in many evidentiary specimens. Evaluation of this methodology is important to improve quality, increase efficiency and decrease artefacts, in order to reduce costs and time consuming.A case with 12 reference samples (bucal swabs) and 190 telogenic hair specimens extracted with DNA IQ™ System Tissue and Hair Extraction Kit (Promega) is reported. HVS-1 and HVS-2 control regions were sequenced with BigDye^® Terminator v1.1 Kit (Applied Biosystems), using BetterBuffer (Microzone Limited), followed by a simple bead purification method (XTerminator) to remove unincorporated terminators. Application of this procedure had success in 180 hair samples within a very short time comparing to dRhodamine/ethanolic precipitation sequencing strategy and also demonstrated that better results are achieved with clean sequence data closer to the primer.The quality of data produced by the BigDye/BetterBuffer/XTerminator (BDX) procedure has been demonstrated to be very high. Besides that the BDX procedure can significantly reduce overall processing time and cost per reaction. This new methodology has additional advantages like fewer reagent transfers and smaller amounts of DNA.     

Validation of the PowerPlex 1.1 loci for use in human identification

STR typing is now the favored method of DNA analysis for the purposes of human identification in the forensic community. The Forensic Services Division of the Detroit Police Department has completed its validation of the PowerPlex 1.1 loci (CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1, vWA, D16S539, D7S820, D13S317, and D5S818) for use in forensic casework. Detroit Metro Area Red Cross samples were typed from each of five racial/ethnic groups--the Hispanic, Caucasian, African American, Asian, and American Indian populations--and allele and genotype frequencies were calculated. A rare off-ladder variant (9.1 allele at D7S820) was identified among the database samples. A number of validation studies were performed. DNA was extracted from different substrates and typed as expected, except for the DNA extracted from leather (signal absent from the D16S539, D7S820, D13S317, CSF1PO, and TPOX loci) and from dirt (no PCR product generated). The minor contributor in the mixture study (250 pg input DNA) was facile to discern. The Concordance study, the variety of fluids from the same individual, and NIST standards studies all produced the expected results. Finally, STR data confirmed previous DNA typing results from adjudicated casework samples.     

Presentation of a three-banded allele pattern--analysis and interpretation

The Israel police forensic biology laboratory received as an item of evidence in an attempted murder case, a pair of trousers belonging to a suspect. A bloodstain was observed on the trousers and analyzed by STR typing for nine loci using the Promega GenePrint STR silver stain detection kits. The genetic profile defined was found to be identical to that of the victim's at all nine loci. Within this profile a three-banded allele pattern was observed at the D16S539 locus, both in the bloodstain and in the victim's reference blood sample. Confirmation of this phenomenon was accomplished by amplifying the extracted DNA from both the trousers and the victim's blood sample using the PowerPlex 16 kit by Promega and the AmpFlSTR SGM Plus kit by Perkin Elmer, followed by analysis of the amplification products by capillary electrophoresis on the ABI prism 310 genetic analyzer. The same three-banded allele pattern was observed at the D16S539 locus in both specimen and reference DNA, using each of the three kits. Three additional loci located on chromosome 16 (D16S3407, D16S2617 and D16S3082), not employed for forensic identification, were also analyzed and did not show three-banded allele pattern.     

Typing of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from compact bone from human remains.

The application of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing methods for the potential identification of unknown human remains was investigated. DNA was isolated from compact bone tissue from badly decomposed bodies and from known and unknown human remains, using a decalcification and ion wash procedure. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) loci yielded results in some cases, but more often the DNA was too degraded to produce RFLP patterns. No RFLP profiles could be obtained from putrefied soft tissues. However, DNA extracted from compact bone tissue of human remains up to eleven years old was successfully amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the VNTR loci D1S80, D17S5, COL2A1, and APO B, as well as the HLA-DQ alpha locus. This is especially significant, since PCR results were obtained from those samples whose DNA had been degraded substantially and had yielded no RFLP patterns. All DNA types determined from the compact bone tissue from decomposed bodies whose identification had been established first by other means (and whose parents or offspring were available for typing) demonstrated mendelian inheritance of the alleles of the loci analyzed. These results suggest that amplification and typing of DNA extracted from compact bone of human remains could be useful in establishing the identity of a person, as well as in excluding possible false identifications.     

Developmental validation of a single-tube amplification of the 13 CODIS STR loci, D2S1338, D19S433, and amelogenin: the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit

Analysis of length polymorphism at short tandem repeat (STR) loci utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process has proven to be an ideal assay for human identification purposes. The short length of STR loci coupled with the amplification of target sequence through PCR allows for a robust, sensitive, and specific assay for highly polymorphic markers. A multiplex containing fifteen STR loci plus the gender-determining locus Amelogenin was developed to provide a single amplification/detection of all CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) STR loci (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, and vWA) as well as two internationally-accepted STRs (D2S1338 and D19S433). By incorporating five-dye fragment analysis technology and non-nucleotide linkers, previously optimized AmpFlSTR kit primer sequences have been maintained. This kit has been developed in accordance with the standards of the forensic community as defined by the DNA Advisory Board. Validation studies were performed to include developmental validation, and the results support the use of the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit for human identity and parentage testing.     

FAM羧基荧光素修饰引物检测D1S80基因座遗传多态性

目的建立用FAM羧基荧光素修饰引物检测DIS80基因座的方法。方法采用5-FAM修饰引物,通过PCR扩增,DNA全自动遗传分析仪进行片段长度分析,检测129名黑龙江汉族无关个体DIS80基因座遗传多态性。结果在所调查的129名黑龙江汉族无关个体样本中,DIS80基因座有21个等位基因,56个基因型,基因频率在0.0039-0.1667之间。杂合度(H)为0.9097,个人识别机率(PD)为0.9691,非父排除概率(PE)为0.8113,多态性信息总量(PIC)为0.8988。群体内基因型频率分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。结论FAM羧基荧光素修饰引物检测DIS80基因座的方法,简便、灵敏、稳定性好,DIS80基因座用于个体识别及亲权鉴定具有很高的实用价值。     

国内外“DNA数据库”遗传学标志的比较研究

目的通过英、美、中"DNA数据库"遗传学标志的比较,探寻我国大规模建库宜用的STR位点.方法用复合PCR扩增和四色荧光技术对我国汉族群体进行基因型检测,获得D2S1338、D19S433、CODIS等15个STR位点的多态性分布资料,并结合目前国内外法医学者报道的其它STR位点进行比较分析.结果Profiler Plus试剂盒中的STR位点和D16S539、D2S1 338、D19S433、Penta D、Penta E任中国人群中有重要应用价值.结论为便于建立DNA实验室技术标准和质控标准,提倡开发和使用适合我国人群的商品化STR检测试剂盒.     

A case of tri-allelic pattern at locus D3S1358 on chromosome 3p21 inherited from paternal grandmother

We are reporting a case of tri-allelic inheritance at locus D3S1358 commonly used for genetic identification in forensic DNA testing. This case was encountered during routine paternity testing using commercial DNA profiling kits. The tri-allelic inheritance identified was probably a result of duplication at this locus, supported by the equal peak intensities and inheritance pattern from grandparent to child.     

Identification of Missing Norwegian World War II Soldiers,in Karelia Russia

This article presents the multidisciplinary effort in trying to identify the skeletal remains of 100 Norwegian soldiers serving in the German army, killed in Karelia Russia in 1944, from the recovery of the remains through the final identification using DNA. Of the 150 bone samples sent for DNA testing, 93 DNA profiles were obtained relating to 57 unique individuals. The relatives could not be directly contacted as the soldiers were considered as traitors to Norway; therefore, only 45 reference samples, relating to 42 cases of the missing, were donated. DNA matches for 14 soldiers and 12 additional body part re‐associations for these individuals were found. Another 24 bone samples were re‐associated with 16 individuals, but no familial match was found. More than six decades after the end of WWII, DNA analysis can significantly contribute to the identification of the remains.     

荧光标记STRs复合扩增分析混合血样品

探讨应用荧光标记STRs复合扩增技术能够检测出混合血样品中较少个体成份的最低检出量及所占的比例多少与基因型的峰值高低是否存在一定的剂量反应关系。采用荧光标记STRs复合扩增技术 ,分析 4对两无关男 /女的混合血样品。扩增基因座包括D8S1179、D2 1S11、D18S5 1、D3S135 8、vWA、FGA、D5S818、D13S317、D7S82 0及性别Amelogeine。结果表明 ,对经用酚 /氯仿有机溶剂方法提取的混合血样品中较少成份的最低检出量为 ,能够从10ng混合DNA中检出 1ng的较少成份 ;从 10∶90至 5 0∶5 0 5个不同比例组 ,较少成份所占比例多少与其对应基因型峰值的高低呈现一定的正相关趋势。应用荧光标记STRs复合扩增技术可能较好地解决混合血样品的个体识别问题     

Validation and casework testing of the BioPlex-11 for STR typing of telogen hair roots

A new STR typing strategy has been developed allowing the simultaneous amplification and subsequent analysis of 11 polymorphic systems with amplicon sizes smaller than 270bp. The multiplex amplification reaction includes six STR loci from the European standard set of loci (ESS) for DNA databases (D3S1358, D8S1179, D21S11, THO1, FGA and VWA) as well as four additional STR systems selected for their robustness (D2S1338, D12S391, TPOX and D5S818) together with the sex-specific locus amelogenin. After PCR amplification, the multiplex reaction is splitted into two sets of STR multiplexes by using biotin labelled primers only for one set. Using streptavidin-coated Sepharose beads five STR systems are separated from the other six systems prior to being analysed in two different runs on a capillary gel electrophoresis instrument. The multiplex system was developed and tested especially for the use in forensic casework if only limited amounts or highly degraded DNA is available, for instance, when isolated from telogen hair roots.     

Molecular phenotyping of a trinucleotide repeat (D5S373) experimental conditions

The aim of this study is to assess the utility of the STR D5S373 in human identification. PCR amplification and electrophoretic separation were optimized in order to achieve unambiguous phenotyping. We concluded that primer concentration and annealing temperature are the main factors affecting the specificity of PCR. In our population survey including three human major groups (Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia), up to six alleles and six interalleles have been found ranging in size from 86 to 101 bp. The phenotypes were determined using horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a technique which has turned out to be suitable for separating fragments as close as 1 bp. In each population, the genotype frequencies conformed to the expectations of genetic equilibrium. Sequence studies were carried out to make the allele nomenclature fit to ISFH recommendations. Results from our population analysis of D5S373 show clear differences in allelic frequency patterns among the three major human groups examined. Human identification parameters estimated from our study are similar to those obtained for other STRs currently used in DNA testing.     

Population study of D1S80 locus in Caucasians living in the Ural region of Russia by capillary electrophoresis

A series of screening tests showed that separation of polymerase chain reaction products and identification of D1S80 by capillary electrophoresis with the use of hydroxyethyl cellulose as the substituting screening template and double internal DNA reference is an accurate, rapid, and reliable method, fit for routine use. D1S80-allele frequencies for Caucasian population were determined in a population of 340 unrelated individuals living in the Ural region of Russia. The D1S80 genotypical frequencies in this population sample do not statistically deviate from the Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The discrimination power for this locus is 0.935. Significant deviations from the zero hypothesis of population homogeneity were detected by comparison of 4 Caucasian population samples. Differences in the frequencies of alleles 25, 30, and 31 seem to be the main cause of heterogeneity in paired comparison.     

miniSTR荧光检测体系的建立及法医学应用

目的 建立检测片段均小于150bp的miniSTR荧光检测体系,提高对微量降解检材DNA的检测效能. 方法 应用Primer Premier 5软件设计、FastPCR 6.0筛选引物,组合成用四色荧光标记引物的miniSTR复合扩增体系.优化PCR检测条件和引物浓度,在3100-Avant仪上用POP4胶进行电泳检测.分型结果用DNA标准品9947A和007进行验证,并通过检测新鲜血样、疑难微量检材评估该体系的法医学应用效能.结果 建立的miniSTR荧光检测体系（D12A TA 63、D2S1776、D1GA TA 113、D4S2408、D17S974、D20S482、D3S3053、Ame logenin、D6S474、D9S1122）中各基因座的检测片段均小于150bp,各等位基因扩增均衡性良好,无非特异性扩增产物,等位基因频率分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,累积个体识别率为0.999999983,三联体累积非父排除率为0.996 8.能成功检测腐败肌肉组织、低拷贝数DNA检材以及在40％甲醛溶液中固定12d的人体组织. 结论 miniSTR荧光检测体系可独立应用于降解DNA样本的个体识别鉴定或补充应用于亲权鉴定,提高对微量、降解检材DNA的检测能力.     

Allelic alterations of STRs in archival paraffin embedded tissue as DNA source for paternity testing

Owing to a wrong name registered on ID card, the identity of a businessman who had been dead and cremated was suspected, which led his son failed to get legacy. In order to prove the parenthood, the son submitted the gastric cancer tissues surgically removed and embedded in a paraffin block as DNA source for paternity test. After extracting DNA with QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit, the 16 STR loci was amplified by two commercial kits of Sinofiler^® (ABI)and Powerplex 16 (Promega), respectively. Both of the STR profiles were similarly showing allelic imbalance pattern at some loci and an additional allele at locus D18S51. The cancerous tissues and adjacent normal tissues were then partitioned off from each other by microscopic analysis of H.E. stained sections and followed by DNA extracting and STR typing, respectively. The allelic alteration could not be found in normal tissues whereas it did in cancerous tissues whose STR profile showed complete loss of one allele (LOH) at loci D13S317 (allele 11 was lost), partial loss of one allele (pLOH) at loci D21S11, D7S820, D19S433, vWA, D12S391 and Amelogein and occurrence of an additional allele (allele 20 was added) at locus D18S51. The results demonstrated that the Paraffin Embedded cancer Tissue used as DNA source for forensic identification is possibly questionable because of their microsatellite instability (MSI) or loss of heterozygosity. It was suggested to partition the normal tissues from the cancer tissues by microscopic evaluation first and then analyzing DNA separately. Comparing the STRs profile of normal tissue with the son's blood sample, the final conclusion was acquired that the donor of the paraffin embedded tissues is the biological father of the son.     

Forensic and population genetic analysis of Serbian population using 21 STR loci of GlobalFiler™ PCR amplification kit

Autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) have been widely used in forensic investigations. Prior to the application of any DNA based identification method, it is essential to estimate the allele frequencies and forensic statistical parameters of targeted STR loci in each population in order to provide a more precise reference database for forensic investigation. The GlobalFiler™ Kit is a multiplex assay that combines the 13 original CODIS loci with 7 non-overlapping loci from the expanded European Standard Set (ESS), as well as the highly discriminating SE33 locus, two Y-based loci and the sex determining maker, Amelogenin. The full complement of loci in the GlobalFiler™ Kit are: D13S317, D7S820, D5S818, CSF1PO, D1S1656, D12S391, D2S441, D10S1248, D18S51, FGA, D21S11, D8S1179, vWA, D16S539, TH01, D3S1358, AMEL, D2S1338, D19S433, DYS391, TPOX, D22S1045, SE33 and a Y-specific insertion/deletion locus (Yindel). The 6-dye GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification kit (ThermoFisher Scientific) comprises 21 autosomal STRs have already been proven to be able to provide reliable DNA profiling results and enhance the power of discrimination between individuals. In this study, we are presenting an analysis of GlobalFiler STR loci on 209 unrelated individuals from Serbia.     

Population data of nine miniSTR loci in Koreans

For highly degraded DNA samples of forensic casework, new miniSTR systems have been developed to supplement the current STR systems. In the present study, nine miniSTR loci were analyzed in 300 unrelated Koreans using three multiplex PCR systems (multiplex I: D10S1248, D14S1434 and D22S1045; multiplex II: D1S1677, D2S441 and D4S2364; and multiplex III: D3S3053, D6S474 and D20S482), and allele frequencies and forensic parameters were calculated. These data demonstrated that D10S1248, D2S441, D22S1045, D14S1434, and D6S474 are as highly informative as the CODIS STRs suggesting that the miniSTRs could be useful for forensic analysis of degraded DNA.     

中国人D7S21基因应5′端侧翼DNA多态性

分析D7S21基因座5’端侧翼DNA3个基因座多态性（－4A／G、－109C／T和一22lG／C）和单倍体分型。用PCR和扩增产物限制性内切酶酶解的方法检测了100名中国人无关个体的多态性,获得了6个不同等位基因的频率,即-4A＝0．29,－4G＝0．71,－109C＝0．54,－109T＝0．46,－221G＝0．74,－221C＝0．26。结果表明,D7SZI基因座5’端侧翼DNA3个基因座的DP值达0．944,在法医学个体识别中具有很高的个体识别能力。     

Population genetic analysis of 15 STR loci of Chinese Tu ethnic minority group

We studied and established a DNA database of 15 euchromosome STRs (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) in a population sample of 151 unrelated individuals of Tu ethnic minority group. Allelic frequencies and statistical parameters of Tu population were calculated. Totally 136 alleles were observed, with the corresponding allelic frequencies ranging from 0.0033 to 0.5359. Chi-square test showed that all STR loci agreed with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Our study population data were compared with the previously publishing population data of other ethnic groups or areas. Our results of present study were valuable for human identification and paternity tests in Chinese Tu population.