Identification of forensically relevant body fluids using a panel of differentially expressed microRNAs.

The ISFG membership consists of scientists and medical professionals specialized in using genetic testing for kinship analysis and the individualization of biological material. This expertise makes the forensic geneticist a resource of advice to international and national organizations dealing with human identifications and causes many DNA laboratories to get involved in DVI tasks. The present recommendations are meant to educate more forensic geneticists about their potential involvement in mass fatality preparedness and possible DVI efforts, as well as to provide practical guidance for each of the laboratories’ individual tasks. The idea to work on DNA-specific recommendations was born after a round table discussion dealing with the 2004 Tsunami disaster in south east Asia during the 21st congress of the International Society for Forensic Genetics on the Azores, Portugal, in September 2005. The ensuing discussion between scientists and pathologists that had been involved in the International Center in Khao Lak, Thailand, revealed the need for the scientific community to be better prepared to answer the local authorities’ questions by formulating generally acceptable scientific standards for the most efficient use of DNA-based victim identification methods. These recommendations, as well as the many cited references, are intended to provide guidance on establishing preparedness for the forensic genetics laboratory, on collecting and storing ante-mortem and post-mortem samples suitable for DNA analysis, on DNA extraction and genetic typing strategies, on data management, and on issues related to the biostatistical interpretation and reporting of results. # 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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DNA Commission of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG): Recommendations regarding the role of forensic genetics for disaster victim identification (DVI)

DNA analysis is frequently used to acquire information from biological material to aid enquiries associated with criminal offences, disaster victim identification and missing persons investigations. As the relevance and value of DNA profiling to forensic investigations has increased, so too has the desire to generate this information from smaller amounts of DNA. Trace DNA samples may be defined as any sample which falls below recommended thresholds at any stage of the analysis, from sample detection through to profile interpretation, and can not be defined by a precise picogram amount. Here we review aspects associated with the collection, DNA extraction, amplification, profiling and interpretation of trace DNA samples. Contamination and transfer issues are also briefly discussed within the context of trace DNA analysis. Whilst several methodological changes have facilitated profiling from trace samples in recent years it is also clear that many opportunities exist for further improvements.

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Forensic trace DNA: a review

Over the last four decades nucleic acid hybridization techniques have been widely used for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. In this approach a 15-nucleotide or longer DNA or RNA strand (the probe) forms complementary duplexes with the analyzed nucleic acid (analyte). Since the development of the first hybridization-based procedures by Hall and Spiegeleman1 and by Bolton and McCarty,2 oligoand polynucleotide probes have become routinely used as laboratory tools for nucleic acid analysis. The examples of such techniques include Southern3 and Northern4 blots, fluorescent in situ hybridization,5 and DNA microarrays.6 Furthermore, the introduction of real-time detection approaches, such as molecular beacon (MB) probes,7,8 has enabled fast assays, in which the fluorescence change is detected immediately after probe hybridization, thus avoiding the need to separate the probe-analyte hybrid from the excess of the unbound probe. However, low selectivity of the probe-analyte hybridization creates complications in the analysis of single-base differences between two polynucleotides. Indeed, a 15-nucleotide-long probe has a similar affinity to a fully complementary analyte and to an analyte containing a single noncomplementary base.9

Binary probes for nucleic acid analysis.

Forensic DNA identification techniques are principally based on determination of the size or sequence of desired PCR products. The fragmentation of DNA templates or the structural modifications that can occur during the decomposition process can impact the outcomes of the analytical procedures. This study reviews the pathways involved in cell death and DNA decomposition and the subsequent difficulties these present in DNA analysis of degraded samples.

http://www.ifm.liu.se/edu/coursescms/TFKI18/literature/Alaeddini-2010.pdf

Forensic implications of genetic analyses from degraded DNA—A review

Analysis of artificially degraded DNA using STRs and SNPs—results of a collaborative European (EDNAP) exercise

We report the results of an inter-laboratory exercise on typing of autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for forensic genetic investigations in crime cases. The European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP), a working group under the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG), organised the exercise. A total of 11 European and one US forensic genetic laboratories tested a subset of a 52 SNP-multiplex PCR kit developed by the SNPforID consortium. The 52 SNP-multiplex kit amplifies 52 DNA fragments with 52 autosomal SNP loci in one multiplex PCR. The 52 SNPs are detected in two separate single base extension (SBE) multiplex reactions with 29 and 23 SNPs, respectively, using SNaPshot kit, capillary electrophoresis and multicolour fluorescence detection. For practical reasons, only the 29 SBE multiplex reaction was carried out by the participating laboratories. A total of 11 bloodstains on FTA cards including a sample of poor quality and a negative control were sent to the laboratories together with the essential reagents for the initial multiplex PCR and the multiplex SBE reaction. The total SNP locus dropout rate was 2.8% and more than 50% of the dropouts were observed with the poor quality sample. The overall rate of discrepant SNP allele assignments was 2.0%. Two laboratories reported 60% of all the discrepancies. Two laboratories reported all 29 SNP alleles in all 10 positive samples correctly. The results of the collaborative exercise were surprisingly good and demonstrate that SNP typing with SBE, capillary electrophoresis and multicolour detection methods can be developed for forensic genetics.

E. Petkovski

Papers

Analysis of artificially degraded DNA using STRs and SNPs—results of a collaborative European (EDNAP) exercise

Forensic typing of autosomal SNPs with a 29 SNP-multiplex—Results of a collaborative EDNAP exercise

Generation of isogenic control DJ-1-delP GC13 for the genetic Parkinson's disease-patient derived iPSC line DJ-1-delP (LCSBi008-A-1).