Investigation of 74 microhaplotypes for kinship testing in US populations

Microhaplotypes are markers that consist of haplotype blocks of SNPs, which can be analyzed by massively parallel sequencing technologies. These allow determining the haplotype phase at every locus by clonal sequencing each DNA strand. MHs are polymorphic loci with same size alleles, no stutter, and lower mutation rate than STRs. They can provide the same power of discrimination of STR-kits, thus useful for mixture deconvolution, but more accurate ancestry prediction than STRs. In this study we investigated the potential of a recently developed 74plex-MH panel for kinship testing using the Familias software.Samples from families of four major US population groups were collected and genotyped using the 74plex-MH panel. MH allele frequency data from 347 individuals were imported into Familias software along with STR allele frequency data of 29 loci (NIST dataset) from 1036 individuals. Different family scenarios were tested and these included unrelated vs parent-child, unrelated vs full siblings, unrelated vs half siblings, unrelated vs cousin pairs. The prediction of the kinship relation for the four populations of interest was reported as Log10 of the likelihood ratio (LR).Overall, the panel of 74MHs and 29STRs showed similar performance in predicting the correct kinship scenarios tested. Correct prediction was reported for parent-child, full siblings, and half sibling scenarios, but not for the cousin pairs scenario. The panel of 74 MHs showed larger Log10LR values than the 29 STR-assay, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of this biomarker as a tool for kinship testing in addition to mixture deconvolution and ancestry prediction.     

24个Y-STR基因座在云南苗族人群中的序列多态性

目的研究法医学常用Y-STR基因座在中国云南苗族男性个体中的序列多态性。方法采用M48磁珠提取纯化试剂盒提取样本DNA,使用ForenSeqTM DNA Signature Prep试剂盒制备文库,Miseq FGx平台进行测序,ForenSeq Universal Analysis v1.2.1软件进行数据分析,用Arlequin v3.5软件计算各Y-STR基因座相关的统计学参数,将Y-STR基因座长度多态性与序列多态性进行比较。结果108名云南苗族个体中共检出106种单倍型,总体单倍型多样性(HD)和Y-STR分型系统的分辨能力(DC)分别为0.9993和0.9815。24个Y-STR基因座共检出204个基因,基因多样性(gene diversity,GD)值为0.2177~0.9481,15个Y-STR基因座的GD值大于0.6。DYF387S1、DYS390、DYS389II、DYS437、DYS438、DYS448、DYS612基因座存在长度相同的基因核心序列不同的情况。结论该24个Y-STR基因座在云南苗族男性人群中具有丰富的遗传多态性。研究结果可为Y-STR数据库的建立、群体遗传学和法医学实践提供参考。     

Introduction of the python script MHinNGS for analysis of microhaplotypes

MHinNGS is a Python application developed for analysis of microhaplotypes (MHs) in single-end sequencing data. MHinNGS analyses reads in standard formats and store each sequence into bins, one bin for each MH as defined by the two flanking sequences. MHinNGS requires a reference genome and a configuration file with information about each locus. Four mandatory and 15 optional criteria defined in the configuration file allow detailed locus-specific analyses of the MH loci. The program 1) removes noise, 2) identify and name alleles, 3) test the genotypes, and 4) test unique sequences not identified as noise or alleles. MHinNGS produces a result file, where every unique sequence that passed the noise filter is presented with MH allele, read depth, warning flags based on the genotyping criteria, sequence, heterozygote balance, and MH name. Furthermore, variation in other parts of the fragment that is not defined as SNPs in the MH, linked variants, or rare SNPs are listed in a separate column of the result file.     

中国汉族人群中Dia抗原和Dib抗原的分子遗传分析

目的研究中国汉族人群Diego血型系统中Dia和Dib抗原表达的分子遗传背景。方法采用血型血清学方法对2990例非血缘关系的捐血者进行Diego血型鉴定,从中随机选择20例表现型为Di(a-b )的样本,以及筛选到的所有Di(a b-)稀有血型样本,采用PCR-SSP、DNA直接测序方法分析Diego血型基因的分子遗传背景。结果2990例捐血者中,发现Di(a b-)表现型2例,Di(a b )167例,Di(a-b )2821例。随机选择的20例表现型为Di(a-b )的DNA样本,经PCR-SSP法检测的基因型为DI2DI2,对DI基因第19外显子直接测序,2561位上碱基为C。2例稀有血型Di(a b-)的DNA序列在19外显子2561位上碱基为T,基因型为DI1DI1。结论中国汉族人群Dia和Dib抗原表达的分子遗传基础是DI基因第19外显子2561位上碱基T-C的置换,引起第854位氨基酸的改变。     

Let's Get Public Administration Right,But in What Sequence?: Lessons from Japan and Singapore

The so‐called Good Governance Model requires perfect public administration that is accountable, efficient, equitable, representative, responsive and transparent and that respects the rule of law. Accordingly, the Good Governance Movement promotes a variety of public administration reforms worldwide. However, the effectiveness of promoting all kinds of administrative reforms at once is in question, because that could overwhelm the reform capability of countries, and more important, some reforms can compete with, rather than complement, one another. Such scenarios are possible, and the implication is clear: administrative reform discourse must consider how to best sequence and prioritize reforms, the outcomes of which must be identified. The experiences of Japan and Singapore offer some insight into this. This study first codifies administrative reforms by using the concepts of administrative themes, and it systematically traces, compares and contrasts reforms in both countries in light of these themes. This leads to the conclusion that the sequences in which administrative reforms evolved in those places contributed to dissimilarities in their administrative traditions today. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青海省羊源细粒棘球蚴EG95基因的克隆与序列分析

从青海省羊源细粒棘球蚴中提取基因组DNA ,用EG95特异性引物进行PCR扩增 ,并克隆至 pGEM TEasy载体上 ,经PCR、EcoRⅠ酶切和测序鉴定后 ,用DNAstar软件对 3个克隆的DNA序列进行同源性分析。结果表明 ,EG95基因的 3个序列 (EG95 QH 1、EG95 QH 2和EG95 QH 3)的片段大小为 14 35～ 14 37bp ,与GenBank中的EG95基因同源性为 73.2 %～99.2 % ,差异集中在内含子区域。其中EG95 QH 1、EG95 QH 3与GenBankEG95XJ ag、EG95 4序列的同源性较高 ;EG95 QH 2与GenBank中EG95 1、EG95 2、EG95 3序列的同源性较高。研究结果表明 ,青海羊源细粒棘球蚴EG95基因的 3个序列为EG95基因家族的成员。     

荧光检验法在朱墨时序鉴定中的应用研究

朱墨时序鉴定一直是文书司法鉴定实践中常见的鉴定项目,也是研究的热点和疑难问题.通过实验研究并结合检案实践,较系统地阐述了视频荧光光谱检验法和显微荧光检验法在朱墨时序鉴定的具体应用,探讨了荧光检验的技术要点.研究表明,荧光检验法（特别是显微荧光检验法）具有普通显微检验法的优点,同时对普通显微检验法中难以观察到的印文或文字色料荧光特性及色料的微观分布状态,具有明显的检验效果,是普通显微检验法有效的补充检验手段.     

Age Estimation Based on DNA Methylation Using Blood Samples From Deceased Individuals

Age estimation using DNA methylation levels has been widely investigated in recent years because of its potential application in forensic genetics. The main aim of this study was to develop an age predictor model (APM) for blood samples of deceased individuals based in five age-correlated genes. Fifty-one samples were analyzed through the bisulfite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing method for DNA methylation evaluation in genes ELOVL2, FHL2, EDARADD, PDE4C, and C1orf132. Linear regression was used to analyze relationships between methylation levels and age. The model using the highest age-correlated CpG from each locus revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.888, explaining 76.3% of age variation, with a mean absolute deviation from the chronological age (MAD) of 6.08 years. The model was validated in an independent test set of 19 samples producing a MAD of 8.84 years. The developed APM seems to be informative and could have potential application in forensic analysis.     

Population data for 94 identity SNPs in four U.S. population groups

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sequenced 1036 human DNA samples from four United States population groups (African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian) using the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit with Primer Mix B (DPMB) on a MiSeq FGx instrument. In addition to STR markers, DPMB includes amplification primers for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) used for individual identification (iiSNPs, n = 94), ancestry inference (aiSNPs, n = 56), and phenotype prediction (piSNPs, n = 22). Resulting sequencing coverage information was interpreted for the 94 iiSNP markers. Here we present performance characteristics of the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit in the population studied.