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At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Erythrocyte acid phosphatase in human hair root sheaths.

Erythrocyte acid phosphatase (EAP) was observed in human hair root sheaths where hair sheaths and blood samples were collected from 150 donors. In each case, the hairs were typed first for EAP and then confirmed by typing the blood from the same donors. Of the 150 donors checked, EAP activity was found in 135 of the samples; the other 15 samples showed no activity because they contained no sheath cells. Of the 135 samples showing activity, 108 of those were typed accurately in EAP. The remaining 27 samples had EAP activity but with inconclusive findings. In this study, all six common phenotypes were encountered.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1983

[Data collection of form and ridge variations of the human palate].

In order to permit uniform notation and evaluation of palatinal form and palatinal ridges a morphological recording schedule including a revised methodology is introduced. By means of actual case reports the general validity of including palatinal form and ridge variation with forensic paternity expertises as well as the advantage of the schedule proposed is demonstrated. However, also the usefulness of the schedule for intra- and interpopulation and family studies is stressed by the authors.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1982

Interpretation of Gm testing results: two case histories.

Two cases in which bloodstains and seminal stain evidence were important were subjected to the identification of Gm antigenic determinants. In the first case, the identification of the seminal stain showed the absence of Gm 1 and 12 determinants and the presence of Gm 4. The interpretation of these results would on the surface suggest that the seminal evidence came from one of two suspects. However, since the absence of Gm 12, which occurs on the immunoglobulin G (IgG) 3 subclass, was not confirmed by the demonstration of another IgG 3 subclass Gm antigenic determinant this result was inconclusive. In the second case, bloodstain and seminal fluid evidence showed that seminal fluid identified on the victim's nightgown had Gm antigenic determinants consistent with those of the suspect and also that blood on the suspect's underpants had Gm antigenic determinants consistent with the deceased's blood. The results of these two cases are interpreted with regard to the Gm results obtained.

Antigens↗
PubMed1995

Region does not mean "race"--reality versus convention in forensic anthropology.

Norman Sauer has posed the rhetorical question: if races do not exist, how come forensic anthropologists are so good at identifying them? The simple answer is that, as members of the society that poses the question, they are inculcated into the social conventions that determine the expected answer. They should also be aware of the biological inaccuracies contained in that "politically correct" answer. Skeletal analysis provides no direct assessment of skin color, but it does allow an accurate estimate of original geographical origins. African, eastern Asian, and European ancestry can be specified with a high degree of accuracy. Africa of course entails "black," but "black" does not entail African. The significant identifying features of a given region then are stochastically determined and are not the products of natural selection. If they are valuable for purposes of identification, they have no coherent adaptive, that is, biological, significance. Neither individual traits nor a configuration of them associated with a given region have any adaptive significance and thus have no comparative worth. Traits of adaptive value however are not constrained by region and cannot be used to identify "race."

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1995

Forensic DNA data banking by state crime laboratories.

This article reports the results of a survey of the responsible crime laboratories in the first 19 states with legislation establishing forensic DNA data banks. The survey inquired into the labs' policies and procedures regarding the collection, storage, and analysis of samples; the retention of samples and data; search protocols; access to samples and data by third parties; and related matters. The research suggests that (1) the number of samples collected from convicted offenders for DNA data banking has far surpassed the number that have been analyzed; (2) data banks have already been used in a small but growing number of cases, to locate suspects and to identify associations between unresolved cases; (3) crime labs currently plan to retain indefinitely the samples collected for their data banks; and (4) the nature and extent of security safeguards that crime labs have implemented for their data banks vary among states. The recently enacted DNA Identification Act (1994) will provide $40 million in federal matching grants to states for DNA analysis activities, so long as states comply with specified quality-assurance standards, submit to external proficiency testing, and limit access to DNA information. Although these additional funds should help to ease some sample backlogs, it remains unclear how labs will allocate the funds, as between analyzing samples for their data banks and testing evidence samples in cases without suspects. The DNA Identification Act provides penalties for the disclosure or obtaining of DNA data held by data banks that participate in CODIS, the FBI's evolving national network of DNA data banks, but individual crime labs must also develop stringent internal safeguards to prevent breaches of data-bank security.

Civil Rights↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Opinion--genome testing and quality assurance.

Recent discoveries and innovations in DNA technology have provided scientists with the ability to rapidly identify complex organisms, or samples therefrom, by detailed study of their genes and genome. In various disciplines, most notably in human forensic identifications, parentage tests and disease diagnosis, these activities have moved to commercial practice. However the rigour of quality assurance in these and other areas has not, in general, kept pace with technological innovation in molecular diagnostics. Insufficient resources are given to objective and ongoing evaluation of the quality of molecular diagnostic services, yet sustained quality is the key to long term credibility of the industry. The rapidly expanding commercial prospects for this technology must be accompanied by a planned commitment of resources to cost efficient quality assurance programs which include both declared and undeclared trials.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed1994

Forensic application of repetitive DNA markers to the species identification of animal tissues.

Highly repetitive DNA markers have been used for determining the species origin of animal tissues in cases of illegal commercialization and poaching of game animals. This approach has been used in cases involving white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), moose (Alces alces) and black bear (Ursus americanus). Digesting the DNA with various restriction enzymes, agarose electrophoresis and staining with ethidium bromide revealed unique banding patterns for each species. These patterns have been used to distinguish meat from game animal species from commercial sources of meat and organs. Data are presented from two Ontario court cases that demonstrate the application of the procedure.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A DNA-based approach to the identification of insect species used for postmortem interval estimation.

Insect larvae found on a corpse can be used for estimating postmortem intervals. Here, we describe a molecular method for rapid identification of these insects. Specific insect DNA fragments were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by direct DNA sequencing of the amplification products. We sequenced 2300 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA from each of three blowfly species: Phormia regina, Phaenicia sericata and Lucilia illustris. All three species are important in forensic entomology. We found 118 nucleotide differences between the L. illustris and P. sericata sequences, 186 between L. illustris and P. regina, and 192 between P. sericata and P. regina. Based on these abundant DNA sequence differences, we can unambiguously identify the immature larval stages of these insects. These DNA sequence differences were also used to predict species-specific, diagnostic restriction sites in the amplified DNA, and these predictions were verified by digestion with nine restriction enzymes. The DNA sequences reported here encode the mitochondrial COI, COII and tRNA-leucine genes.

Animals↗