New Perspectives for Whole Genome Amplification in Forensic STR Analysis

Abstract

Modern PCR-based analytical techniques have reached sensitivity levels that allow for obtaining complete forensic DNA profiles from even tiny traces containing genomic DNA amounts as small as 125 pg. Yet these techniques have reached their limits when it comes to the analysis of traces such as fingerprints or single cells. One suggestion to overcome these limits has been the usage of whole genome amplification (WGA) methods. These methods aim at increasing the copy number of genomic DNA and by this means generate more template DNA for subsequent analyses. Their application in forensic contexts has so far remained mostly an academic exercise, and results have not shown significant improvements and even have raised additional analytical problems. Until very recently, based on these disappointments, the forensic application of WGA seems to have largely been abandoned. In the meantime, however, novel improved methods are pointing towards a perspective for WGA in specific forensic applications. This review article tries to summarize current knowledge about WGA in forensics and suggests the forensic analysis of single-donor bioparticles and of single cells as promising applications.

Characterization of DNA Quality, TPOX Locus, TH01 Locus in Seawater Soaked Nails in Forensic Identification

“…The results of the above study showed that the quantity of DNA content in nails decreased in proportion to the length of immersion in seawater, this was due to abnormal exposures from the surrounding environment, resulting in irreversible damage to DNA hydrogen bonds. This condition damaged the purine-pyrimidine pair in DNA, where this purine-pyrimidine pair is the main component of the DNA structure 15 .…”

Single cell genomics applications in forensic science: Current state and future directions

“…However, the renewed interest in the method generated by these recent publications may result in further useful forensic applications. 117 In a recent non-empirical, theoretical study, Ge et al. using simulated mixtures demonstrate clusters of ≥7 haploid cells have ≥97.6% accuracy to the donor aSTR profile.…”

DNA Polymerases for Whole Genome Amplification: Considerations and Future Directions

“…Similarly, in comparative genomic single cell hybridization (SCOMP), adaptors are attached to the enzymatically digested genome [28,29] (Figure 1D). With these true PCR-based approaches, it is possible to achieve complete amplification of the genome from different nucleic acid samples for applications in biomedical or forensic sciences, as described in other comprehensive reviews [30,31]. However, isothermal protocols are widely used for WGA and can achieve higher coverage breadth and lower false positive rates than PCR-based methods.…”