降解生物检材遗传标记检测的研究进展

降解生物检材遗传标记的检测一直是法医学实践和科研的难点。虽然PCR-STR分析技术能在一定程度上检测降解生物检材的遗传标记,但是对于某些高度降解的生物检材如骨骼、牙齿等的PCR-STR分型仍旧十分困难,存在不稳定性和分型异常现象。本文就近几年来PCR-STR分型技术在降解生物检材的法医实践中出现的问题和解决方法作一综述。     

两种DNA提取法对不同色泽肋软骨STR分型成功率的比较

目的比较两种DNA提取法对不同色泽肋软骨的DNASTR分型结果的影响。方法利用Chelex-100法和酚-氯仿法,分别对30例不同色泽的腐败尸体肋软骨进行DNA提取,STR复合扩增,ABI3100型基因分析仪对扩增产物进行检测。结果用酚-氯仿法提取的30例腐败尸体肋软骨,均检测到全部STR基因座的等位基因型。用Chelex-100法提取的肋软骨中,22例(11例白色、8例淡黄色、3例黄色)检测出全部STR基因座的等位基因型;7例(3例黄色、4例黄褐色)检测出部分STR基因座的等位基因型;1例黑灰色的腐败尸体肋软骨,未检测出STR基因座的等位基因型。结论根据肋软骨的色泽,选择适宜的DNA提取方法。对于颜色较深的肋软骨,用酚-氯仿法进行DNA提取有助于提高其STR基因座的检出率。     

Genetic polymorphism at 15 tetrameric short tandem repeat loci in four aboriginal tribal populations of Bengal

POPULATIONS: This study reports the genetic polymorphism observed at 15 short tandem repeat loci D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX, D2S1338, D19S433, and FGA in four aboriginal populations of Bengal. The analysis was performed to decipher the suitability of CODIS as well as six other highly polymorphic and unlinked markers in Forensic Testing. Studied populations include four tribes: Karmali, Kora, Maheli, and Lodha.     

Analysis of Y-STR loci in a population sample from northeast China

POPULATION: A total of 141 unrelated Chinese Han male individuals living in Liaoning in northeast China.     

Microchip-based cell lysis and DNA extraction from sperm cells for application to forensic analysis

The current backlog of casework is among the most significant challenges facing crime laboratories at this time. While the development of next-generation microchip-based technology for expedited forensic casework analysis offers one solution to this problem, this will require the adaptation of manual, large-volume, benchtop chemistry to small volume microfluidic devices. Analysis of evidentiary materials from rape kits where semen or sperm cells are commonly found represents a unique set of challenges for on-chip cell lysis and DNA extraction that must be addressed for successful application. The work presented here details the development of a microdevice capable of DNA extraction directly from sperm cells for application to the analysis of sexual assault evidence. A variety of chemical lysing agents are assessed for inclusion in the extraction protocol and a method for DNA purification from sperm cells is described. Suitability of the extracted DNA for short tandem repeat (STR) analysis is assessed and genetic profiles shown. Finally, on-chip cell lysis methods are evaluated, with results from fluorescence visualization of cell rupture and DNA extraction from an integrated cell lysis and purification with subsequent STR amplification presented. A method for on-chip cell lysis and DNA purification is described, with considerations toward inclusion in an integrated microdevice capable of both differential cell sorting and DNA extraction. The results of this work demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating microchip-based cell lysis and DNA extraction into forensic casework analysis.     

A simple and inexpensive molecular method for sexing and identification of the forensic samples of elephant origin

The population of the Asian elephant is being dramatically reduced due to poaching of the ivory from the male. As poaching occurs in remote forests, it often takes weeks or longer for it to be discovered and it is therefore often very difficult to determine the sex of the decomposed body. Data suggest that in the recent past, over 2000 male elephants have been poached in South India. We have developed a technique based on molecular markers to determine that the carcass is an elephant and that it is a male. Using DNA sequence information from Genbank, we have developed two primer pairs: one for the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the other for the sex-determining region of Y chromosome (SRY) gene of the Indian elephant. After PCR amplification of known elephant DNA, we found that the mtDNA was common in both males and females, whereas the SRY-specific amplicon was observed only in the male.     

Y chromosome STR haplotypes and allele frequencies in Illinois Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic males

POPULATION: Population: Illinois Caucasian ( n =117), Illinois African American ( n =218), and Illinois Hispanic ( n =68).     

Alpha-amylase kinetic test in bodily single and mixed stains

Recently, in Italy, a murder and a putative sexual violence was accomplished on a child. A bodily fluids mixture on the child's underwear between the victim (female) and the suspect (male) was ascertained by short tandem repeat (STR) DNA typing and, due to the absence of seminal fluid, saliva from the suspect and urine from the child was hypothesized. In order to investigate the possibility of specifically and rapidly detecting saliva stains both alone and mixed with other bodily fluids, we used a quantitative spectrophotometric technique, named Amylase test, for the detection of alpha-amylases. We determined alpha-amylase activity and reaction kinetic curves in several samples collected from the child's underwear. In order to confirm our intuition, we first tested saliva, perspiration, and urine, singularly and in mixtures; second, several forensic stains including saliva, perspiration, urine stains, saliva/perspiration, and saliva/urine mixture stains were tested. Evaluating alpha-amylase activity values and time-course curves' behavior of alpha-amylase reactions we were able to recognize successfully, in all cases, the presence of saliva and to distinguish it specifically from other bodily fluids containing alpha-amylase. A further confirmation of our result was provided by STR DNA typing on several areas of the underwear: a clear correlation between alpha-amylases activity and male DNA was detected on all the samples evaluated.