Detection of microRNAs in DNA Extractions for Forensic Biological Source Identification

Lewis, Carolyn; Layne, Tiffany; Seashols‐Williams, Sarah

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14070

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Therefore, it may be difficult to perform an independent evaluation from a small sample or from stains containing multiple body fluids. To solve these problems, a method for simultaneously extracting RNA and DNA from the same sample and for identifying body fluid by mRNA, microRNA, and DNA methylation, along with STR typing, is also being developed [42,[99][100][101][102][103]. Semen and vaginal fluid have often been the targets of sexual crime investigations, but in recent years, in addition to saliva, the need has grown to identify the skin fragments of suspects that become detached during the assault, which are called touch samples.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Methods for Body Fluid Identification Related to Sexual Crime: Focusing on Saliva, Semen, and Vaginal Fluid

2020

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Although, DNA typing plays a decisive role in the identification of persons from blood and body fluid stains in criminal investigations, clarifying the origin of extracted DNA has also been considered an essential task in proving a criminal act. This review introduces the importance of developing precise methods for body fluid identification. Body fluid identification has long relied on enzymatic methods as a presumptive assay and histological or serological methods as a confirmatory assay. However, because the latest DNA typing methods can rapidly obtain results from very small and even old, poorly preserved samples, the development of a novel corresponding body fluid identification method is required. In particular, an immunochromatographic method has been introduced to identify saliva and semen from sexual crimes. In addition, for vaginal fluid identification, attempts have been made in the past decade to introduce a method relying on body fluid-specific mRNA expression levels. At present, the development of molecular biological methods involving microRNA, DNA methylation, and resident bacterial DNA is ongoing. Therefore, in criminal investigations, body fluid identification is an essential task for correctly applying the results of DNA typing, although further research and development are required.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Methods for Body Fluid Identification Related to Sexual Crime: Focusing on Saliva, Semen, and Vaginal Fluid

2020

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“…vaginal material, menstrual blood) body fluids have limitations, including a lack of sensitivity and specificity, and a requirement to carry out multiple tests that destroy limited samples [ 52 ]. This has led to interest in the analysis of RNA in body fluid stains, particularly given RNA can be co-extracted with DNA, allowing parallel production of a DNA profile alongside body fluid testing [ 53 ].…”

Section: Body Fluid Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developments in forensic DNA analysis

Haddrill

2021

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences

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The analysis of DNA from biological evidence recovered in the course of criminal investigations can provide very powerful evidence when a recovered profile matches one found on a DNA database or generated from a suspect. However, when no profile match is found, when the amount of DNA in a sample is too low, or the DNA too degraded to be analysed, traditional STR profiling may be of limited value. The rapidly expanding field of forensic genetics has introduced various novel methodologies that enable the analysis of challenging forensic samples, and that can generate intelligence about the donor of a biological sample. This article reviews some of the most important recent advances in the field, including the application of massively parallel sequencing to the analysis of STRs and other marker types, advancements in DNA mixture interpretation, particularly the use of probabilistic genotyping methods, the profiling of different RNA types for the identification of body fluids, the interrogation of SNP markers for predicting forensically relevant phenotypes, epigenetics and the analysis of DNA methylation to determine tissue type and estimate age, and the emerging field of forensic genetic genealogy. A key challenge will be for researchers to consider carefully how these innovations can be implemented into forensic practice to ensure their potential benefits are maximised.

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“…RNA and DNA can then be co-extracted from the same sample without having to choose DNA over RNA or vice versa [ 62 , 63 ]. If DNA analysis has to be prioritized, sufficient RNA may still be present in the remaining eluates or flowthroughs from DNA extraction procedures of samples after DNA analysis has been finished [ 64 , 65 ].…”

Section: An Application Field Guidementioning

confidence: 99%

Ten years of molecular ballistics—a review and a field guide

Euteneuer

Courts

2021

Int J Legal Med

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Molecular ballistics combines molecular biological, forensic ballistic, and wound ballistic insights and approaches in the description, collection, objective investigation, and contextualization of the complex patterns of biological evidence that are generated by gunshots at biological targets. Setting out in 2010 with two seminal publications proving the principle that DNA from backspatter collected from inside surfaces of firearms can be retreived and successfully be analyzed, molecular ballistics covered a lot of ground until today. In this review, 10 years later, we begin with a comprehensive description and brief history of the field and lay out its intersections with other forensic disciplines like wound ballistics, forensic molecular biology, blood pattern analysis, and crime scene investigation. In an application guide section, we aim to raise consciousness to backspatter traces and the inside surfaces of firearms as sources of forensic evidence. Covering crime scene practical as well as forensic genetic aspects, we introduce operational requirements and lay out possible procedures, including forensic RNA analysis, when searching for, collecting, analyzing, and contextualizing such trace material. We discuss the intricacies and rationales of ballistic model building, employing different tissue, skin, and bone simulants and the advantages of the “triple-contrast” method in molecular ballistics and give advice on how to stage experimental shootings in molecular ballistic research. Finally, we take a look at future applications and prospects of molecular ballistics.

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Detection of microRNAs in DNA Extractions for Forensic Biological Source Identification

Cited by 23 publications

References 31 publications

Current Methods for Body Fluid Identification Related to Sexual Crime: Focusing on Saliva, Semen, and Vaginal Fluid

Current Methods for Body Fluid Identification Related to Sexual Crime: Focusing on Saliva, Semen, and Vaginal Fluid

Developments in forensic DNA analysis

Ten years of molecular ballistics—a review and a field guide

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