A Molecular Method to Correlate Bloodstains with Wound Site for Crime Scene Reconstruction

Abstract

Bloodstain pattern analysis to determine the wound-of-origin of bloodstains is problematic with nonspecific patterns. In this proof-of-concept study, the authors examined a molecular approach to correlate bloodstains with injuries using the rat as a model. Specifically, investigations were conducted on the rat brain marker, rno-miR-124-3p, with the QIAGEN miScript System and real-time PCR analysis. Rno-miR-124-3p was detected in brain homogenates diluted 100,000 times; in 3-week-old, room temperature stored, simulated brain-blood stains; and in bloodstains from head gunshot wounds collected with swabs and subsequently frozen for 9-18 months; however, rno-miR-124-3p was not detected in whole blood. Proof-of-principle was demonstrated by the ability to distinguish bloodstains from a gunshot wound to the head versus bloodstains from a gunshot wound to the chest, by the testing of otherwise identical bloodstains from the two patterns for the presence of the marker. The results suggest a viable approach to a longstanding problem in casework.

The miR-21/PTEN/Akt signaling pathway is involved in the anti-tumoral effects of zoledronic acid in human breast cancer cell lines

“…Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed with a miScript System (Qiagen, USA), as previously described (Wang et al 2010), which included specific primers for miR-21 (5′-UAGCUUAUCAGACUGAUGUUGA-3′). Gene expression was evaluated by iCycler iQ real-time PCR detection system (BioRad Laboratories, Milano, MI, Italy), using the SYBRGreen as fluorochrome, as previously described (Johnson et al 2014). Reactions were performed under the following conditions: 95°C 15 min; 94°C 15 s, 55°C 30 s, 70°C 30 s, 40 cycles.…”

A Molecular Method to Detect Wound Cells in Bloodstains Resultant of Sharp Force Injuries for Crime Scene Reconstruction

“…However, the results of this study indicate that wound cells may vary in amounts from pattern to pattern, and from bloodstain to bloodstain within a pattern. A nonuniform distribution of wound cells was also observed by the authors with gunshot blood spatter patterns (7). Sampling strategies in casework will have to consider the possibility of a heterogeneous distribution of wound cells across bloodstains of a pattern.…”

“…In a previous study, the authors demonstrated that blood spatter resultant of a gunshot wound can contain trace quantities of wound cells . Moreover, the study showed that wound cells can provide information on the anatomical site of origin of the bloodstains.…”

“…The stab wound resulted in a hemothorax or hemoperitoneum and death, but in the absence of the body, the bloodstain pattern on the floor would be indistinguishable from that of a finger prick. The authors provide other examples of nonspecific bloodstain patterns in a previous report , but importantly, nonspecific bloodstain patterns can complicate investigations. During a homicide investigation, for example, investigators may find blood from the victim or suspect, but the blood is found where one might expect to find this person's blood for reasons other than the crime.…”

“…The blood may be evidence of the crime or the blood may be an unrelated coincidental finding. However, current blood analysis techniques are ineffective in determining the correct circumstances under which the blood was shed, because of the context of the finding and the lack of specificity of the blood evidence (7). The lack of an analytical test to evaluate the different explanations for the presence of victim's or suspect's blood can lead to erroneous conclusions.…”