Morphological study of fragmented DNA on touched objects

Kita, Tomoko; Yamaguchi, Hiroki; Yokoyama, Mitsuru; Tanaka, Toshiko; Тanaka, Noriyuki

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2008.09.002

Cited by 76 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, characterising these cell types is difficult as they are chemically and structurally similar to salivary epithelial cells. The other concern with the separation of skin cells using FACS is that many sloughed skin cells will not contain a nucleus [31,32], and, therefore, only partial or no DNA will be detected from a single cell of this variety. As this pilot study focused on salivary epithelial and blood cells, it would be valuable Table 3 Likelihood ratios and proportions of each donor in each experiment two sample (5 saliva:1 blood-1 saliva:1000 blood) as determined by STRmix.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

FACS separation of non-compromised forensically relevant biological mixtures

Verdon

Mitchell

Chen

et al. 2015

Forensic Science International: Genetics

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Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

FACS separation of non-compromised forensically relevant biological mixtures

Verdon

Mitchell

Chen

et al. 2015

Forensic Science International: Genetics

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“…While undergoing apoptotic-like destruction, the nuclei are extruded, and the cells become cornified [15]. With the complete renewal of the epidermis every 40–56 days, humans shed considerable numbers of cells everyday, containing DNA and stripped nuclei, and presumably epidermal proteins and mRNA transcripts as well [17–19]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mRNA-based skin identification for forensic applications

et al. 2011

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Although the identification of human skin cells is of important relevance in many forensic cases, there is currently no reliable method available. Here, we present a highly specific and sensitive messenger RNA (mRNA) approach for skin identification, meeting the key requirements in forensic analyses. We examined 11 candidate genes with skin-specific expression, as ascertained from expression databases and the literature, as well as five candidate reference genes ascertained from previous studies, in skin samples and in other forensically relevant tissues. We identified mRNA transcripts from three genes CDSN, LOR and KRT9, showing strong over-expression in skin samples relative to samples from forensic body fluids, making them suitable markers for skin identification. Out of the candidate reference genes tested, only ACTB showed similarly high expression in skin and body-fluid samples, providing a suitable reference marker for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis of skin. Analyses of palmar and thumbprint skin samples indicate that our qPCR approach for the three skin-targeted mRNA markers, as well as the reference mRNA marker ACTB, is highly sensitive, allowing successful detection of minute amounts of skin material including full, half and quarter thumbprints, albeit with decreased success in decreasing print material. Furthermore, thumbprints stored for 6.5 months provided similar results relative to freshly analysed samples implying reasonable time-wise stability of the three skin-targeted mRNAs as well as the ACTB reference mRNA. Our study represents the first attempt towards reliable mRNA-based skin identification in forensic applications with particular relevance for future trace/touched object analyses in forensic case work. Although the approach for skin identification introduced here can be informative when applied on its own, we recommend for increased reliability the integration of (one or more of) the skin-targeted mRNA markers presented here into multiplex assays additionally including mRNA markers targeting alternative cell types expected in forensic samples.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00414-010-0545-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Generating a DNA profile from a fingermark for the purpose of human identification would be beneficial in resolving a broad spectrum of criminal investigations, ranging from theft to crimes of violence. DNA retrieved from fingermarks deposited by touch (referred to as touch DNA) is often degraded (1) and limited in quantity (2) and may contain elements that co-extract with the DNA (3), which can hinder subsequent amplification. Although forensic genetics has seen substantial improvements in DNA profiling sensitivity (46), typically the use of less than 100 pg of DNA template (equating to 16 human somatic cells) can result in poor-quality profiles (7, 8).…”

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confidence: 99%

DNA Profiles from Fingermarks

Templeton

Linacre

2014

BioTechniques

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Criminal investigations would be considerably improved if DNA profiles could be routinely generated from single fingermarks. Here we report a direct DNA profiling method that was able to generate interpretable profiles from 71% of 170 fingermarks. The data are based on fingermarks from all 5 digits of 34 individuals. DNA was obtained from the fingermarks using a swab moistened with Triton-X, and the fibers were added directly to one of two commercial DNA profiling kits. All profiles were obtained without increasing the number of amplification cycles; therefore, our method is ideally suited for adoption by the forensic science community. We indicate the use of the technique in a criminal case in which a DNA profile was generated from a fingermark on tape that was wrapped around a drug seizure. Our direct DNA profiling approach is rapid and able to generate profiles from touched items when current forensic practices have little chance of success.

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Morphological study of fragmented DNA on touched objects

Cited by 76 publications

References 10 publications

FACS separation of non-compromised forensically relevant biological mixtures

FACS separation of non-compromised forensically relevant biological mixtures

mRNA-based skin identification for forensic applications

DNA Profiles from Fingermarks

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