Study of the Cytochrome b Gene Sequence in Populations of Taiwan

Abstract:  The cytochrome b gene (MTCYB) has been widely used in taxonomic research. In this study, the sequence polymorphism of the MTCYB gene was determined in 417 subjects of eight populations living in Taiwan (Taiwanese Han, indigenous Taiwanese, Tao, mainland Chinese, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, and Caucasian). Sequence variation from the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence and genetic distance between these populations were analyzed. There were 108 variable positions with a total of 99 haplotypes. Population-specific positions of MTCYB gene were noted in Tao and Caucasian populations. There were statistically significant differences of genetic distance between Taiwanese Han and Caucasian, between Taiwanese Han and Tao, and between Taiwanese Han and Filipino. A phylogenetic tree presents the genetic distances between these populations. In conclusion, there are sufficient sequence polymorphisms of the MTCYB gene in individuals of different populations, which may be used in the analyses of human ethnic groups in forensic casework.     

THE MEDIATOR'S ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS (MASIC): A SCREENING INTERVIEW FOR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN

Screening for intimate partner violence and/or abuse (IPV/A) in family mediation is important, perhaps particularly among cases without attorney representation. While most mediators agree that it is ideal to consider IPV/A in case planning, there is less agreement regarding the need to universally and systematically screen for IPV/A among all cases. Such attitudes are of concern, given research in other fields (e.g., medicine, couples therapy) and our own research in a family mediation clinic, which documents that the lack of consistent and formal IPV/A assessment results in underdetection of IPV/A. While a variety of IPV/A screening measures exist, each has shortcomings. Thus, our research and clinical experience led us to develop a new IPV/A screening measure, the Mediator's Assessment of Safety Issues and Concerns (MASIC). We discuss features of the MASIC and provide the full measure in the Appendix. The MASIC is a behaviorally specific IPV/A screen that assesses various types of abuse (e.g., coercive control, stalking, physical violence) over the course of the relationship and in the past year. It is administered as an interview to build rapport and assesses lethality indicators and offers optional recommendations for procedural changes in mediation based on IPV/A. Although we have begun relevant research, it is important to note that the MASIC has not yet been validated. Nonetheless, we recommend the use of systematic IPV/A screens in family mediation and suggest that such measures may prove especially important in providing unrepresented parties a safe and appropriate environment for mediation.     

华夏^(TM)白金PCR扩增试剂盒的法医学应用评估CSCD

目的调查华夏^(TM)白金PCR扩增试剂盒所包含的23个常染色体STR基因座在中国汉族人群中的遗传多态性,评估其在法医遗传学中的应用价值。方法应用华夏^(TM)白金PCR扩增试剂盒对500名汉族无关健康个体进行分型检测,统计分析所含STR基因座的频率分布及群体遗传学参数,与目前国内外常用的7种商品化试剂盒在STR基因座个数、内标、荧光标记、Ladder中等位基因总数以及系统效能上进行比较。结果 23个常染色体STR基因座均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡(P>0.05),个体识别率为0.791 5~0.986 2,多态信息含量为0.559 0~0.914 0。系统累积个体识别率高达1-4.1×10-28,三联体累积非父排除率为1-4.1×10^(-10),二联体累积非父排除率为1-8.4×10^(-7)。通过与7种试剂盒比较,华夏^(TM)白金PCR扩增试剂盒含有的等位基因分型标准品(Ladder)中的等位基因数最多。结论 23个常染色体STR基因座在汉族人群中有良好的遗传多态性,可用于法医遗传学亲权鉴定及个体识别。通过与其他常见的7种商业化STR检测试剂盒比较,华夏^(TM)白金PCR扩增试剂盒可进一步提供更为丰富的遗传信息。     

遗传标记微单倍型在法医学中的研究进展

微单倍型作为一种新型的法医学遗传标记,在国际法医学界已经引起了越来越多的关注。微单倍型是在较短片段内(例如200bp),包含2个或以上个SNP,具有单倍型多态性的序列。相较于STR,微单倍型突变率低,在混合斑鉴定中具有一定优势;与SNP相比较,微单倍型的多态性更高。选择含有祖先信息特征的微单倍型,在种群分析鉴定中具有应用价值。本文就微单倍型的演变,分型方法,命名及群体特征等方面作一综述。     

Y染色体OSU49基因座遗传多态性分析

目的调查Y染色体OSU49基因座在河南汉族群体中的遗传多态性,评价其法医学应用参数。方法知情同意情况下,采集300名河南汉族男性个体的血样本,荧光标记PCR,扩增产物采用ABI 3130遗传分析仪检测。根据分型检测结果,对不同等位基因进行序列分析(测序)。结果 OSU49基因座包含五核苷酸和四核苷酸两种核心序列。在河南汉族群体中基序表现为:(CTTTC)pCTT(CCCT)7T(CTTTC)1(TCTT)5(TCCT)m(TCTT)n TCT(TCCT)4,五核苷酸核心序列的重复次数为12~17,四核苷酸核心序列的重复次数为20~30,按其片段长度命名等位基因,共发现34个等位基因,GD值为0.918 6,DP值为0.915 5。结论 Y染色体OSU49基因座序列结构复杂,在河南汉族群体中具有较高的遗传多态性,可应用于法医学和人类遗传学研究中。     

QUESTIONS ABOUT FAMILY COURT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT

Increasingly, family courts are seeking ways to focus limited resources on cases that require the most intervention, tailor court responses and dispute methods to each case, and account for the real differences among domestic violence cases. One of the means to that end may be the triaging or screening of cases. This article raises a number of questions about screening and urges that they be addressed by courts and communities that are considering whether and how to design a screening protocol. Issues include: How should we define domestic violence for the purposes of screening? Who should carry out the screening? How can we maximize the likelihood that we will fully assess the context of the violence in each case? How should we assess the risks or dangers inherent in the parties’ situation? How should a screening effort account for changing circumstances as a case proceeds through the courts? How can information gathered in a screening effort improperly impact subsequent decisions of the court?     

中国5个汉族群体PentaD和PentaE基因座的遗传多态性

目的研究PentaD、PentaE基因座在中国广西、湖南、河南、四川、台湾汉族5个群体遗传多态性,比较它们之间的遗传学差异。方法用ProwerPlex(?)16 System荧光标记试剂盒(Promega公司)检测其多态性。结果PentaD、PentaE基因座在5个群体共646名无关个体中分别检出10、19个等位基因,PentaD在湖南汉族首次检出等位基因19。PentaE在河南汉族首次检出等位基因7。PentaD和PentaE在各群体的期望杂合度分别为0.7746～0.8047和0.9005-0.9219,多态信息含量(PIC)为0.7710～0.8025和0.8969-0.9176,个体识别率为0.9223-0.9341和0.9471-0.9782,非父排除率(PE)为0.5435-0.6325和0.6785-0.8465。结论PentaD、PentaE是高度多态性STR基因座,在法医学中有重要应用价值。     

Fast gas chromatography of explosive compounds using a pulsed-discharge electron capture detector

The detection of a mixture of nine explosive compounds, including nitrate esters, nitroaromatics, and a nitramine in less than 140 sec is described. The new method employs a commercially available pulsed-discharge electron capture detector (PDECD) coupled with a microbore capillary gas chromatography (GC) column in a standard GC oven to achieve on-column detection limits between 5 and 72 fg for the nine explosives studied. The PDECD has the benefit that it uses a pulsed plasma to generate the standing electron current instead of a radioactive source. The fast separation time limits on-column degradation of the thermally labile compounds and decreases the peak widths, which results in larger peak intensities and a concomitant improvement in detection limits. The combination of short analysis time and low detection limits make this method a potential candidate for screening large numbers of samples that have been prepared using techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction or solid-phase microextraction.     

A rapid test for heroin (3,6-diacetylmorphine) based on two chemiluminescence reactions

A rapid method for screening drug seizure samples for 3,6-diacetylmorphine (heroin), which consists of a simple hydrolysis procedure and flow-injection analysis with two chemiluminescence reagents, is described. Before hydrolysis, 3,6-diacetylmorphine evokes an intense response with a tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) reagent (prepared by dissolving the perchlorate salt in acetonitrile), and a relatively weak chemiluminescence response with a second reagent: potassium permanganate in an aqueous acidic polyphosphate solution. However, the permanganate reagent is extremely sensitive toward the hydrolysis products of 3,6-diacetylmorphine (i.e., 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine). Some compounds commonly found in drug laboratories may cause false positives with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III), but do not produce the markedly increased response with the permanganate reagent after the hydrolysis procedure. The combination of these two tests therefore provides an effective presumptive test for the presence of 3,6-diacetylmorphine, which we have verified with 14 samples obtained from a forensic science laboratory.     

Genetic analysis for Y chromosome short tandem repeat haplotypes of Chinese Han population residing in the Ningxia province of China

POPULATION: One hundred and one unrelated, autochthonous healthy males of the Chinese Han population living in Yongning county of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China.