Forensic analysis of the mitochondrial coding region and association to disease.
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To increase the success rate of Y-STR genotyping for degraded DNA, we have developed two multiplex PCR sets for 21 Y-STR loci. Besides the 17 Y-STR loci of DYS19, DYS385, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, and GATA H4.1 contained in a commercial Y-STR kit, AmpFlSTR Yfiler, the other four loci of DYS388, DYS446, DYS447, and DYS449 were also included in the multiplexes to increase the discrimination capacity. Among a total of 21 Y-STR loci, the primers for eight loci (DYS385, DYS390, DYS438, DYS446, DYS448, DYS449, and DYS635) were newly designed in the present study and nine loci (DYS385, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, and DYS635) have PCR amplicons smaller than those of the AmpFlSTR Yfiler kit. A sensitivity test using serially diluted standard 9948 male DNA showed that all the values of Y-STR loci in the Y-miniplexes are reliable at template concentrations as low as 30 pg. We compared the effectiveness of the two multiplexes with the AmpFlSTR Yfiler kit by using both enzymatically degraded DNA and 30 samples of 50-year-old skeletal remains. This comparison demonstrated that the new Y-miniplex sets can produce a better signal from degraded DNA than the AmpFlSTR Yfiler kit.
Mitochondrial DNA control region sequences were determined in 1,200 male volunteers from one village area of Lower Saxony for the hypervariable region 1 (HV1). The 154 variable positions found resulted in 460 different haplotypes with a haplotype diversity value of 0.98165. The number of different haplotypes showed a nearly linear increase with the number of individuals typed. The haplotype diversity approached saturation level at a value of approximately 0.981 after typing 400 individuals. Furthermore, the number of different haplotypes and the haplotype diversity were calculated for four short amplicons of HV1 in order to establish the most variable section with a high efficiency for forensic casework.
The analysis of a mixed biological stain by means of highly polymorphic VNTR systems usually reveals a profile composed of multiple alleles. If the victim and one or several suspects match the profile the evidential strength of the matches has to be very carefully analysed. The appropriate methods for the statistical analysis of DNA profiles advanced recently by Weir with coauthors and by the present authors are limited to cases where all non-tested persons involved in the analysis belong to the same ethnic group. The present paper extends the theory beyond this limitation.
Haplotype frequencies for eight Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were determined in paragraph signa population sample from Barcelona (NE Spain). After PCR amplification and denaturing PAGE electrophoresis, DYS19, DYS388, DYS389 I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393 loci were typed. Complete eight paragraph signY-chromosomal STRs haplotypes could be formed for 223 subjects, among which 137 different haplotypes were observed. The most common haplotype was shared by 13% of the sample, while 108 haplotypes were unique. The discrimination capacity was 61.5% and the gene diversity was 0.978. From the forensic point of view the combined polymorphisms provide a high diagnostic efficiency.
In three separate shooting incidents involving multiple gunshots, two FMJ bullets and one bullet fragment found at the scene (one from each case) were investigated for the presence of biological material from the victim after perforation. The surface of the missiles, which did not show obvious tissue traces when examined under a macroscope, was swabbed. PCR typing of up to five STR loci was performed on the small amounts of DNA extracted, which were seen below the detection limit of the slot blot quantification in one case. Nevertheless, individualisation of cellular material from the perforating projectiles was successful in each of the three cases presented. Consequently, identification of the victim wounded by a perforating bullet can reliably be achieved if contamination or removal of evidentiary material by improper handling is prevented. This technique is especially useful in cases where more than one person has fired a gun because the bullet carrying DNA can be linked to the firearm by investigation with a comparison microscope. As a by-product of this investigation, a variant allele 14 (14+4) at the VWA locus was detected.
A system of nomenclature is proposed for the complex STR system ACTBP2 (SE33) in order to facilitate data exchange between laboratories. The nomenclature conforms to the ISFH recommendations as far as it is possible for such complex systems. A blind trial was carried out between up to 20 laboratories to ascertain the reproducibility of the nomenclature under working conditions. The population studies carried out have established that there are minimal regional differences in the allele frequencies and that the system of nomenclature is robust.
Population data were generated for the STR systems HUMFIBRA and HUMD21S11 for a Hungarian Caucasian population sample residing in Baranya County, Hungary (127 unrelated individuals). The loci were coamplified using a fluorescence based PCR method and were typed automatically. For both loci 12 different alleles could be found including some variants. No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations were observed. Both loci proved to be highly discriminating and valuable polymorphisms for forensic analyses.
In this paper we describe a new primer pair for the short tandem repeat (STR) D12S391 which makes it possible to obtain considerably shorter amplification fragments (125-173 bp), compared to the previously published primers (205-253 bp). The primers were tested on 70 samples with known genotypes, and no differing results were found. In sensitivity studies, forensic casework samples and DNA quality studies, we proved that the new primers can improve the efficiency of the amplification. Moreover, the resolution of this locus on denaturing PAGE followed by silver staining was dramatically improved. This improvement was found to be most valuable for typing the rare.3 variants known for this locus. We also present and propose a new method for silver staining denaturing acrylamide gels.
The seven Y-chromosomal STRs DYS 19, DYS385 I/II, DYS389 I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393 were amplified using two multiplex PCRs. The optimization of the PCR conditions led to reliable and sensitive systems. Co-amplification of the amelogenin locus was possible in both multiplex systems. In a population sample of 151 Bavarian males, a gene diversity of 0.99 was observed. Sensitivity studies revealed a detection limit of 50 pg DNA per 25 microl reaction volume. PCR experiments with combinations of male/male and male/female DNA showed that in male/male mixtures, the minor component could be detected up to a ratio of 1:15, whereas in male/female mixtures the male component could be found in a higher ratio up to 1:60.
We have compiled a database of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, hypervariable regions 1 (HVR1) and 2 (HVR2) sequences of a total of 14,138 individuals compiled from 103 mtDNA publications before 1 January 2000, 13 data sets published in 2000 and 2001 and 2 unpublished data sets of Iraqi Kurds and Indians from Kerala. By contacting the authors and by other means, we have confirmed and corrected sequence errors, eliminated duplications and harmonised the sequence format. These changes affected all but 26 of the 116 publications. Furthermore, we have implemented a geographic information system ("mtradius") which searches for closest matches to a given mtDNA control region sequence and displays them on a geographic map. A potential application is to estimate a chance matching probability when a forensic stain and a suspect have an identical mtDNA sequence: we suggest that the geographic area with the highest frequency of closely related mtDNA sequence types may be used to define a reference population to give the suspect the maximum benefit of doubt in accordance with the ceiling principle.
The allele frequency and sequence structure of the STR locus D12S1090 were investigated in 598 Flemish individuals. The locus shows a complex organisation with repetitions of GATA interrupted by TA and other tetra- and pentanucleotide blocks. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. The extensive polymorphism makes it a powerful tool for identity as well as paternity testing and even permits differentiation of closely related populations, such as Flemish and Germans. D12S1090 seems to be one of the most informative STRs, however, as seen in other highly variable STRs, the observed mutation frequency of 5.1 x 10(-3), is relatively high. of STR loci is typing highly polymorphic STRs such as ACTBP2 [3]. We thus investigated the tetranucleotide (GATA) repeat locus D12S1090 (GDB accession number GDB:376560, also known as GATA5A09) in a population sample from Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Although this STR is considered to be highly polymorphic [4], compared with other STRs, it has only scarcely been studied.
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Most anthropologists have abandoned the concept of race as a research tool and as a valid representation of human biological diversity. Yet, race identification continues to be one of the central foci of forensic anthropological casework and research. It is maintained in this paper that the successful assignment of race to a skeletal specimen is not a vindication of the race concept, but rather a prediction that an individual, while alive was assigned to a particular socially constructed 'racial' category. A specimen may display features that point to African ancestry. In this country that person is likely to have been labeled Black regardless of whether or not such a race actually exists in nature.
Commonly used methods of diagnosing racial affinity from the skull may give paradoxical results. This may be due to using single populations to represent large geographical areas, and to the use of measurements unduly subject to local variation. It is suggested that a more flexible approach, using appropriate local populations and selected measurements, would be entirely practical with the use of modern small computers.
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