Forensic Analysis of mtDNA Haplotypes from Two Rural Communities in Haiti Reflects Their Population History

Abstract: Very little genetic data exist on Haitians, an estimated 1.2 million of whom, not including illegal immigrants, reside in the United States. The absence of genetic data on a population of this size reduces the discriminatory power of criminal and missing‐person DNA databases in the United States and Caribbean. We present a forensic population study that provides the first genetic data set for Haiti. This study uses hypervariable segment one (HVS‐1) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nucleotide sequences from 291 subjects primarily from rural areas of northern and southern Haiti, where admixture would be minimal. Our results showed that the African maternal genetic component of Haitians had slightly higher West‐Central African admixture than African‐Americans and Dominicans, but considerably less than Afro‐Brazilians. These results lay the foundation for further forensic genetics studies in the Haitian population and serve as a model for forensic mtDNA identification of individuals in other isolated or rural communities.     

The use of the M-Vac® wet-vacuum system as a method for DNA recovery

Collecting sufficient template DNA from a crime scene sample is often challenging, especially with low quantity samples such as touch DNA (tDNA). Traditional DNA collection methods such as double swabbing have limitations, in particular when used on certain substrates which can be found at crime scenes, thus a better collection method is advantageous. Here, the effectiveness of the M-Vac® Wet-Vacuum System is evaluated as a method for DNA recovery on tiles and bricks. It was found that the M-Vac® recovered 75% more DNA than double swabbing on bricks. However, double swabbing collected significantly more DNA than the M-Vac® on tiles. Additionally, it was found that cell-free DNA is lost in the filtration step of M-Vac® collection. In terms of peak height and number of true alleles detected, no significant difference was found between the DNA profiles obtained through M-Vac® collection versus double swabbing of tDNA depositions from 12 volunteers on bricks. The results demonstrate that the M-Vac® has potential for DNA collection from porous surfaces such as bricks, but that alterations to the filter apparatus would be beneficial to increase the amount of genetic material collected for subsequent DNA profiling. These results are anticipated to be a starting point to validate the M-Vac® as a DNA collection device, providing an alternative method when DNA is present on a difficult substrate, or if traditional DNA collection methods have failed.     

法证科学领域的决策

随着法证DNA证据以及它所适用的概率模型日益凸显,反映了传统法证科学的局限性,并使人们对法证科学领域的决策产生了越来越多的质疑,焦点集中在对结论的解读方式和实际运用。分析表明,科学证据的本质不是绝对性或确定性的,而是概率性的;同时,事实审判者需要基于这些概率性的证据对事实作出明确的决定。因此,对于法证科学领域的决策,应当是专家在一系列归纳得出的特定假设基础上,就研究结果的概率进行恰当的报告,由事实审判者承担对概率作出决断的任务。     

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.     

线粒体 DNA突变与心肌病关系的研究进展

人类某些疾病与线粒体DNA(mtDNA)基因组缺陷有关.本文就mtDNA突变与缺血性心肌病和肥厚型心肌病关系的研究加以回顾.目前的研究大多认为心肌缺血缺氧致氧化磷酸化紊乱,产生氧自由基损伤mtDNA,以及缺氧致氧化磷酸化过度诱导而损伤mtDNA,慢性损伤积累终致mtDNA片断缺失或点突变,主要表现出mtDNA5.0kb、7.4kb缺失及细胞色素b(cytb)基因上C15452A点突变;tRNA基因保守序列突变,致肌肉收缩蛋白合成缺陷,缺陷的收缩蛋白持续而无效的收缩可能会增加心肌对ATP的代谢需求,因此导致心肌肥厚.     

DNA芯片分析单核苷酸多态性及其法医学应用

DNA芯片技术作为一门新兴的高科技生物技术,显示了它旺盛的生命力和迅猛的发展势头。单核苷酸多态性(SingleNucleotidePolymorphisms,SNPs)是最常见的人类基因组变异类型。它作为一种有效的人类遗传标记,在疾病相关性研究、药物基因组学、法医学、人类进化和迁移等研究中发挥了重要作用。它同DNA芯片技术结合运用也将在法医检验,尤其是亲子鉴定和个人识别中发挥重要作用。本文主要讨论了DNA芯片和SNPs的特点,以及二者联合运用于法医学的价值。     

DNA指纹的个体特异性和细胞稳定性研究

人类基因组的许多高度可变区域能够与小卫星探针杂交,而同时被检测出来,小卫星探针由串联重复的"核心"顺序构成.采用Southern印迹杂交获得的DNA指纹图包含多条高度可变的DNA片段杂交带,这些带主体细胞和生殖细胞中都表现出稳定性,而且安全具有个体特异性.本文用小卫星探针33.15,调查了北京地区的60名无关个体,     

DNA指纹图在法医学鉴定中应用的研究(Ⅰ)

应用 MYO DNA 探针对中国人进行了 DNA 遗传指纹图检验。从两个家系16人及100个无关个体中取肘静脉血提取 DNA,用限制性内切酶 HinfⅠ或 HaeⅢ水解,1%琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离,经 Southern印迹转移,MYO DNA 探针杂交,获得了清晰可辨的 DNA 指纹图谱。结果每个个体在3.0Kb 以上均能检出10条以上杂交区带,个体间的相关概率<4×10~(-9),由杂交区带构成的图谱是个体特异的,杂交区带遵循孟德尔的显性遗传方式由亲代向子代遗传;具有 DNA Fingerprints 的特点。对两起亲子鉴定的案例进行指纹图检验,孩子所存在的杂交区带,除来自母亲外,其余可在嫌疑父亲带中找到,肯定了孩子与嫌疑人的父子关系。MYO DNA 探针在亲子鉴定与个人识别的法医学鉴定中有着重要的实用价值。     

Validation of the Short Amplicon Multiplex Q8 Including the German DNA Database Systems*

Abstract: We have developed a concept to enable the analyzing of degraded stains with limited DNA template quantity. Therefore we have constructed a short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex including the German DNA database systems (Q8). The amplicon lengths are smaller than 280 bp. For the validation of Q8 over 50 degraded samples were investigated. Amplifications were performed with “low copy number” PCR, the number of PCR cycles was increased to 33 and the reaction volume was decreased to 12.5 μL. Compared with the MPX2 and Nonaplex kit, the average success rate was increased using the Q8 kit by approximately 20% and 30%, respectively. The efficiency of a sensitive STR multiplex with reduced amplicon lengths was confirmed in comparing the success rates of Q8 for typing degraded samples and samples with limited amount of DNA template while partial profiles were observed with the majority of the samples using commercially available kits.     

利用烟头DNA鉴定破案1例

1案例简介2002年1月5日凌晨,宜昌市某村发生一起蒙面入室抢劫案,受害人罗某夫妇被一伙蒙面歹徒持刀砍伤,并抢走部分财物。接到报案后,区公安分局侦技人员立即赶赴现场开展侦破工作,经勘察现场,仅在距中心现场60余米处的一田坎下提取到数枚烟头,同时在侦察中发现外来人员向某与李某有作案嫌疑,但李某去向不明,传唤向某,因无确凿证据,向某拒不承认到过现场和参与作案。为揭露和证实犯罪,采取向某血样、李某妻子与女儿血样与现场烟头进行PCR检验。2检验用chelex-100提取现场烟头咬痕处唾液斑DNA和向某血样DNA、李某妻子及女儿血样DNA,经ep…