Sequence polymorphism in the human melanocortin 1 receptor gene as an indicator of the red hair phenotype.

We describe a minisequencing protocol for screening DNA samples for the presence of 12 mutations in the human melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R), eight of which are associated with the red hair phenotype. A minisequencing profile which shows homozygosity for one of these mutations or the presence of two different mutations would strongly indicate that the sample donor is red haired. The absence of any red hair causing mutations would indicate that the sample donor does not have red hair. We report the frequencies of MC1R variants in the British red haired population.     

中国北方汉族人群FUT6基因3个SNPs遗传多态性

目的对中国北方汉族人群FUT6基因编码区序列特征及等位基因多态性进行调查。方法测序分析30例中国北方汉族人FUT6基因整个编码区序列并鉴定其单倍型,采用复合PCR与复合限制性内切酶结合的RFLP法分析FUT6基因rs778805（C370T）、G855A及rs61147939（C907G）3个SNPs遗传多态性;应用Haploview4.1软件进行相关统计分析。结果 30例测序样本中共检出8个SNPs和6种单倍型,149例中国北方汉族个体C370T、G855A、C907G基因型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。杂合度分别为0.544、0.416、0.510;多态信息含量为0.375、0.372、0.367;个人识别能力为0.600、0.651、0.603;非父排除率为0.187、0.186、0.183。PCR-RFLPs检出13种基因型,单倍型变异度为0.646。Haploview4.1软件分析表明3个SNPs处于连锁不平衡状态。结论中国北方汉族人群FUT6基因编码区序列呈现出高度多态性;C370T、G855A、C907G位点多态性分布良好,但处于连锁不平衡状态。     

偏执型精神分裂症患者GRIN1基因-855G/C与-1140G/A位点的遗传多态性

目的探讨GRIN1基因启动子区两个单核苷酸多态性位点-855 G/C、-1140 G/A遗传多态性与偏执型精神分裂症的相关性及法医学意义。方法采用PCR限制性片段长度多态性(restriction fragment length polymorphism,RFLP)结合PAGE法对中国北方汉族183例健康无关个体和172例偏执型精神分裂症患者GRIN1基因5′端的-855 G/C和-1140 G/A位点多态性进行检测,采用χ2检验人群中基因型分布是否符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律,并比较两组人群中基因型和等位基因频率分布的差异。结果两组群体基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律。-855 G/C位点基因型分布在对照组女性和实验组女性间的差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),-1140 G/A位点基因型和等位基因频率分布在对照组和实验组间及两组女性间差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 GRIN1基因启动子区-1140 G/A位点单核苷酸多态性可能与精神分裂症存在相关性;精神分裂症发生的遗传学因素可能存在性别倾向,可为精神分裂症的司法鉴定提供参考。     

Real-time polymerase chain reaction quantification of canine DNA

The accurate quantification of target DNA is an important step in the short tandem repeat analysis of forensic biological samples. By utilizing quantification data to control the amount of template DNA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), forensic scientists can optimize testing and minimize the consumption of limited samples. The ability to identify and quantify target DNA in mixed-species samples is crucial when it may be overwhelmed by nontarget DNA, as in cases of dog attack. We evaluated two quantitative real-time PCR assays for dynamic range, species specificity, and inhibition by humic acid. While both assays proved to be highly sensitive and discriminating, the Melanocortin-1 Receptor (MC1R) gene Taqman assay had the advantages of a shorter run time, greater efficiency, and safer reagents. In its application to forensic casework, the MC1R assay has been advantageous for quantifying dog DNA in a variety of mixed-species samples and facilitating the successful profiling of individual dogs.     

Heat Induced Changes to Dental Resin Composites: A Reference in Forensic Investigations?*

The objective was to investigate color change and surface damage in dental resin composites exposed to high temperatures over different time intervals for comparative purposes. Samples were prepared using two resins - Z100(R) (R1) and Charisma (R2), heated at the following temperatures: 200 degrees C, 400 degrees C, 600 degrees C, 1000 degrees C, for 15, 30 and 45 min (n = 104 for each resin sample). Color (DeltaE) and brightness (DeltaL) changes were analyzed by spectrophotometry using the CIE Lab system and surface changes by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). R1 showed more intense color changes after heat exposure than R2. DeltaL values were found to be the best parameter for evaluation of light and color change. A biphasic pattern after thermal exposure was detected, from dark brown to light white. SEM showed more intense alterations in R2 than in R1. These results indicate that the parameters observed in both resins are useful as a guide in forensic analyses.     

谷氨酸受体基因单核苷酸多态性与精神分裂症的关联

谷氨酸是人类神经系统中重要的兴奋性神经递质,通过与受体结合发挥生物学作用.当编码受体的基因异常时,可能导致精神疾病发生.本文通过回顾相关研究,发现诸如GRIN1、GRIN2B、GRM3等受体基因上的rs11146020、366C/G、rs1468412与精神分裂症相关联;同时也存在矛盾的研究结果,表明精神分裂症可能为多因素、多位点、多基因复杂遗传疾病.部分位点如GRIN2B上的366C/G、2664C/T,GRIK2上的rs1408766(C/T)的遗传多态性较好,可能成为法医学个人识别与亲权鉴定的新指标.该领域研究在司法精神病的鉴定工作中可能具有潜在的意义.     

中国人群补体C_1R的遗传多态性

采用聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳，结合免疫印迹技术，对中国辽宁地区360名无关个体的补体C1R遗传多态性进行了研究。共检出6种常见表现型和4种变异型。基因频率C1R*1=0．5181，C1R*2=0．3291，C1R*3=0．1472，CIR*R=0．0056，分布符合Hardy-Weinberg法则。C1R的血型鉴别机率（DP值）为0．7694，是一种具有高度鉴别能力的血清多态性遗传标记。     

Microscopical discrimination of human head hairs sharing a mitochondrial haplogroup

In forensic analyses, determining the level of consensus among examiners for hair comparison conclusions and ancestry identifications is important for assessing the scientific validity of microscopical hair examinations. Here, we present data from an interlaboratory study on the accuracy of microscopical hair comparisons among a subset of experienced hair examiners currently analyzing hair in forensic laboratories across the United States. We examined how well microscopical analysis of hair can reliably be used to differentiate hair samples, many of which were macroscopically similar. Using cut hair samples, many sharing similar macroscopic and microscopic features, collected from individuals who share the same mitochondrial haplogroup as an indication of genetic relatedness, we tested multiple aspects that could impact hair comparisons. This research tested the extent to which morphological features related to ancestry and hair length influence conclusions. Microscopical hair examinations yielded accurate assessments of inclusion/exclusion relative to the reference samples among 85% of the pairwise comparisons. We found shorter hairs had reduced levels of accuracy and hairs from populations examiners were not familiar with may have impacted their ability to resolve features. The reliability of ancestry determinations is not yet clear, but we found indications that the existing categories are only somewhat related to current ethnic and genetic variation. Our results provide support for the continued utility of microscopical comparison of hairs within forensic laboratories and to advocate for a combined analytical approach using both microscopical analysis and mtDNA data on all forensic analyses of hair.     

Mitochondrial DNA sequencing of human hair shafts stored for long time

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing is commonly used for forensic genetic identification of relation and personality identification based on analysis of tooth and skeletal rudiments. We demonstrated the possibility of DNA extraction and subsequent enzymatic amplification of fragments of a hypervariable segment I of mtDNA control region from hair shafts after long storage (up to 75 years). Shed hairs are the most common biological material evidence in forensic investigations. Low content of DNA and its possible degradation in hair shafts without bulbs may cause artifacts in polymerase chain reaction. However comparative analysis of amplified nucleotide sequences of amplified fragments from hair stored for 75 years was identical to the sequence from hairs cut immediately before experiment. This indicates high quality of the resultant matrices, stability of results, and hence, the possibility of using DNA extracted from hair shafts without bulbs stored for a long time for expert genetic analysis. Theoretical and methodological prospects of using mtDNA polymorphism analysis for forensic expert evaluations are discussed.     

焦磷酸测序分析短片段牙釉质蛋白基因进行性别鉴定

目的采用焦磷酸测序技术分析短片段牙釉质蛋白基因进行性别鉴定并用于骨骼及腐败生物检材的检测。方法应用blast软件,确定牙釉质蛋白基因(Amel)上1段含有3个SNP位点及1个插入/缺失(indel)位点的序列作为待测靶序列,设计引物,扩增该段序列,应用焦磷酸测序技术分析扩增序列,进行性别鉴定。对方法进行准确性、灵敏度、种属特异性的测试,并用于对骨骼和高度降解DNA的检测。结果 PCR产物分别为44bp(Amel X)和45bp(Amel Y),女性测序结果为:G/G,T/T,…/…,C/C,男性测序结果为:G/T,T/A,…/C,C/A,分型图谱清晰。应用本文方法检测100份已知性别的DNA样本,结果均正确无误,方法最低DNA模板量为0.5ng,具有较好的人类种属特异性。用于高度降解DNA分析,较IdentifilerTM试剂盒具有更高的成功率且骨骼样本也得到清晰的分型结果。结论本文采用焦磷酸测序技术分析Amel的方法在法医学性别鉴定中有较好的应用价值。     

毛发中GHB的检测及评价

目的探索毛发中外源性GHB的检测及判断的可行性,为涉GHB的鉴定提供方法和依据。方法建立毛发中GHB的GC/MS分析方法,并通过动物实验,考察毛发中内源性GHB的质量分数范围、外源性GHB在毛发中的时间过程以及给药剂量、毛发颜色与毛发中GHB的质量分数关系。结果豚鼠和中国人黑色毛发中内源性GHB质量分数分别为(3.01±1.41)ng/mg(n=28)和(1.02±0.27)ng/mg(n=20);摄GHB后毛发中GHB质量分数明显增加且与给药剂量呈正相关性;GHB在毛干中呈窄带分布;深色毛发中GHB质量分数高于浅色毛发。结论毛发中GHB的检测适用于GHB滥用和中毒的法医毒物学鉴定;根据毛发中的GHB质量分数和毛发分段分析可判断GHB的来源。     

Modern Scientific Evidence Pertaining to Criminal Investigations in the Chosun Dynasty Era (1392–1897 A.C.E.) in Korea

A guidebook detailing the process of forensic investigation was written in 1440 A.C.E. It outlines the fundamentals and details of each element of criminal investigation during the era of the Chosun dynasty in Korea. Because this old guidebook was written in terms of personal experience rather than on scientific basis, it includes many fallacies from the perspective of modern forensic science. However, the book describes methods to form a scientific basis for the experiments performed. We demonstrate the modern scientific basis for ancient methods to monitor trace amounts of blood and detect lethal arsenic poisoning from a postmortem examination as described in this old forensic guidebook. Traces of blood and arsenic poisoning were detected according to the respective color changes of brownish red, due to the reaction of ferric ions in blood with acetic ions of vinegar, and dark blue, due to the reaction of silver with arsenic sulfide.     

Forensic Discrimination of Dyed Hair Color: II. Multivariate Statistical Analysis*,†

Abstract: This research is intended to assess the ability of UV–visible microspectrophotometry to successfully discriminate the color of dyed hair. Fifty‐five red hair dyes were analyzed and evaluated using multivariate statistical techniques including agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis (DA). The spectra were grouped into three classes, which were visually consistent with different shades of red. A two‐dimensional PCA observations plot was constructed, describing 78.6% of the overall variance. The wavelength regions associated with the absorbance of hair and dye were highly correlated. Principal components were selected to represent 95% of the overall variance for analysis with DA. A classification accuracy of 89% was observed for the comprehensive dye set, while external validation using 20 of the dyes resulted in a prediction accuracy of 75%. Significant color loss from successive washing of hair samples was estimated to occur within 3 weeks of dye application.     

Results of a collaborative study of the EDNAP group regarding mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy and segregation in hair shafts

A collaborative exercise was carried out by the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) in order to evaluate the distribution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy amongst the hairs of an individual who displays point heteroplasmy in blood and buccal cells. A second aim of the exercise was to study reproducibility of mtDNA sequencing of hairs between laboratories using differing chemistries, further to the first mtDNA reproducibility study carried out by the EDNAP group. Laboratories were asked to type 2 sections from each of 10 hairs, such that each hair was typed by at least two laboratories. Ten laboratories participated in the study, and a total of 55 hairs were typed. The results showed that the C/T point heteroplasmy observed in blood and buccal cells at position 16234 segregated differentially between hairs, such that some hairs showed only C, others only T and the remainder, C/T heteroplasmy at varying ratios. Additionally, differential segregation of heteroplasmic variants was confirmed in independent extracts at positions 16093 and the poly(C) tract at 302-309, whilst a complete A-G transition was confirmed at position 16129 in one hair. Heteroplasmy was observed at position 16195 on both strands of a single extract from one hair segment, but was not observed in the extracts from any other segment of the same hair. Similarly, heteroplasmy at position 16304 was observed on both strands of a single extract from one hair. Additional variants at positions 73, 249 and the HVII poly(C) region were reported by one laboratory; as these were not confirmed in independent extracts, the possibility of contamination cannot be excluded. Additionally, the electrophoresis and detection equipment used by this laboratory was different to those of the other laboratories, and the discrepancies at position 249 and the HVII poly(C) region appear to be due to reading errors that may be associated with this technology. The results, and their implications for forensic mtDNA typing, are discussed in the light of the biology of hair formation.     

Goldeneye？DNA身份鉴定系统26Y试剂盒的法医学验证

目的：对Goldeneye？DNA身份鉴定系统26Y试剂盒的法医学参数进行验证和分析。方法根据DNA分析方法科学工作组（Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods,SWGDAM）对试剂盒的法医学验证要求,从PCR扩增体系的测试、重复性、准确性、灵敏度等多个角度对该试剂盒进行检测评估。应用该试剂盒对华东地区517名汉族健康无关个体进行Y-STR基因座分型检测,检测单倍型分布状况及频率信息,并评估该试剂盒的法医学参数。结果该试剂盒对6.25μL扩增体系、DNA量低至125 pg时仍然可以得到准确的分型结果。特异性检测发现该试剂盒对常见的动物DNA和微生物DNA无有效的扩增结果。男性混合样本（1∶19和19∶1）中,较少样本的等位基因检出率可以达到70%以上;在男女混合样本中,女性DNA背景的存在不影响试剂盒的灵敏度。结论 Goldeneye？DNA身份鉴定系统26Y试剂盒灵敏度高、特异性好,且可以应用于混合物的检测。试剂盒所包含的26个Y-STR基因座多态性良好,可满足法医学实际应用。     

中国北方汉族群体TPH基因座T3792A位点遗传多态性

目的研究中国北方汉族群体色胺酸羟化酶（TPH）基因座T3792A位点的遗传多态性及其法医学应用价值。方法应用等位基因特异性PCR的方法，检测173例中国北方汉族无关个体TPH基因座T3792A位点的遗传多态性。结果TPH基因座T3792A位点在中国北方汉族群体中的多态性分布符合Hardy—Weinberg平衡定律，等位基因A及T的频率分别为0．486和0．514。结论TPH基因座T3792A位点具有较好的遗传多态性．可应用于个体识别与亲权鉴定。     

Simultaneous analysis of six amphetamines and analogues in hair, blood and urine by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Application to the determination of MDMA after low ecstasy intake

A rapid and sensitive method using LC-MS/MS triple stage quadrupole for the determination of traces of amphetamine (AP), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"), 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine (MDEA), and N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine (MBDB) in hair, blood and urine has been developed and validated. Chromatography was carried out on an Uptisphere ODB C(18) 5 microm, 2.1 mm x 150 mm column (Interchim, France) with a gradient of acetonitrile and formate 2 mM pH 3.0 buffer. Urine and blood were extracted with Toxitube A (Varian, France). Segmented scalp hair was treated by incubation 15 min at 80 degrees C in NaOH 1M before liquid-liquid extraction with hexane/ethyl acetate (2/1, v/v). The limits of quantification (LOQ) in blood and urine were at 0.1 ng/mL for all analytes. In hair, LOQ was <5 pg/mg for MA, MDMA, MDEA and MBDB, at 14.7 pg/mg for AP and 15.7 pg/mg for MDA. Calibration curves were linear in the range 0.1-50 ng/mL in blood and urine; in the range 5-500 pg/mg for MA, MDMA, MDEA and MBDB, and 20-500 pg/mg for AP and MDA. Inter-day precisions were <13% for all analytes in all matrices. Accuracy was <20% in blood and urine at 1 and 50 ng/mL and <10% in hair at 20 and 250 pg/mg. This method was applied to the determination of MDMA in a forensic case of single administration of ecstasy to a 16-year-old female without her knowledge during a party. She suffered from hyperactivity, sweating and agitation. A first sample of urine was collected a few hours after (T+12h) and tested positive to amphetamines by immunoassay by a clinical laboratory. Blood and urine were sampled for forensic purposes at day 8 (D+8) and scalp hair at day 60 (D+60). No MDMA was detected in blood, but urine and hair were tested positive, respectively at 0.42 ng/mL and at 22 pg/mg in hair only in the segment corresponding to the period of the offence, while no MDA was detectable. This method allows the detection of MDMA up to 8 days in urine after single intake.     

FN-EIIIA肽段表达与皮肤损伤时间推断研究

目的 在mRNA研究的基础上,研究大鼠皮肤挫伤后含EIIIA□段的Fn蛋白水平表达与损伤时间关系。方法片段特异性单克隆抗体免疫组织化学染色。结果伤后6h表皮细胞、毛囊上皮细胞等出现棕黄色阳性染色颗粒,并随损伤时间延长染色加深。结论Fn-EIIIA片段检测可用于法医学生前伤确认和损伤时间推断。     

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。