Forensic DNA profiling currently allows the identification of persons already known to investigating authorities. Recent advances have produced new types of genetic markers with the potential to overcome some important limitations of current DNA profiling methods. Moreover, other developments are enabling completely new kinds of forensically relevant information to be extracted from biological samples. These include new molecular approaches for finding individuals previously unknown to investigators, and new molecular methods to support links between forensic sample donors and criminal acts. Such advances in genetics, genomics and molecular biology are likely to improve human forensic case work in the near future.

https://projects.nfstc.org/dnamix/2011/presentations/forensics_article.pdf

Improving human forensics through advances in genetics, genomics and molecular biology

Circulating cytokines and growth factors are regulators of inflammation and have been implicated in autoimmune and metabolic diseases. In this genome-wide association study (GWAS) of up to 8,293 Finns we identified 27 genome-widely significant loci (p −9 ) for one or more cytokines. Fifteen of the associated variants had expression quantitative trait loci in whole blood. We provide genetic instruments to clarify the causal roles of cytokine signaling and upstream inflammation in immune-related and other chronic diseases. We further link inflammatory markers with variants previously associated with autoimmune diseases such as Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, and ulcerative colitis and hereby elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning these diseases and suggest potential drug targets.

Genome-wide Association Study Identifies 27 Loci Influencing Concentrations of Circulating Cytokines and Growth Factors

In current forensic practice, information about the possible biological origin of forensic traces is mostly determined using protein-based presumptive testing. Recently, messenger RNA-profiling has emerged as an alternative strategy to examine the biological origin. Here we describe the development of a single multiplex mRNA-based system for the discrimination of the most common forensic body fluids as well as skin cells. A DNA/RNA co-isolation protocol was established that results in DNA yields equivalent to our standard in-house validated DNA extraction procedure which uses silica-based columns. An endpoint RT-PCR assay was developed that simultaneously amplifies 19 (m)RNA markers. This multiplex assay analyses three housekeeping, three blood, two saliva, two semen, two menstrual secretion, two vaginal mucosa, three general mucosa and two skin markers. The assay has good sensitivity as full RNA profiles for blood, semen and saliva were obtained when using ≥0.05 μL body fluid starting material whereas full DNA profiles were obtained with ≥0.1 μL. We investigated the specificity of the markers by analysing 15 different sets of each type of body fluid and skin with each set consisting of 8 individuals. Since skin markers have not been incorporated in multiplex endpoint PCR assays previously, we analysed these markers in more detail. Interestingly, both skin markers gave a positive result in samplings of the hands, feet, back and lips but negative in tongue samplings. Positive identification (regarding both DNA- and RNA-profiling) was obtained for specimens stored for many years, e.g. blood (28 years-old), semen (28 years-old), saliva (6 years-old), skin (10 years-old) and menstrual secretion (4 years-old). The described approach of combined DNA- and RNA-profiling of body fluids and contact traces assists in the interpretation of forensic stains by providing information about not only the donor(s) that contributed to the stain but also by indicating which cell types are present.

/pdf/a-multiplex-m-rna-profiling-system-for-the-forensic-ti5h6qldq5.pdf

A multiplex (m)RNA-profiling system for the forensic identification of body fluids and contact traces.

Identifying the source tissue of biological material found at crime scenes can be very informative in a number of cases. Despite their usefulness, current visual, catalytic, enzymatic, and immunologic tests for presumptive and confirmatory tissue identification are applicable only to a subset of samples, might suffer limitations such as low specificity, lack of sensitivity, and are substantially impacted by environmental insults. Moreover these assays are incompatible and thus cannot be multiplexed. Thus they are less amenable to automation. In addition their results are operator-dependent. A better alternative approach is tissue identification based on messenger RNA (mRNA) or microRNA (miRNA); however, RNA is not as stable as DNA, and requires the use of non-standard procedures by forensic laboratories. Herein a DNA-based assay is described that enables tissue identification based on detection of tissue-specific methylation patterns. DNA samples are subjected to digestion by a methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease followed by multiplex amplification of specific genomic targets with fluorescent-labeled primers, capillary electrophoresis of amplification products, and automatic signal analysis by dedicated software, yielding the source tissue of the sample. The single tube assay was designed for easy integration by forensic laboratories (as the assay utilizes the same platforms as current forensic STR profiling). The system is fully automatable, provides operator-independent results, and allows combining tissue identification with profiling in a single procedure. The assay was tested on 50 DNA samples from blood, saliva, semen, and skin epidermis, and the source tissue was successfully identified in all cases. Detection of semen and DNA profiling were combined into one assay and the ability to detect mixtures of semen and saliva in various ratios was demonstrated. The assay correctly detected semen in all samples where it was present, and the calculated percentage of semen was comparable to the fraction of semen in the samples. The results demonstrate that methylation-based tissue identification is more than a proof-of-concept. The methodology holds promise as another viable forensic DNA analysis tool for characterization of biological materials.

DNA methylation-based forensic tissue identification.

Understanding the variables impacting DNA transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery (DNA-TPPR) has become increasingly relevant in investigations of criminal activities to provide opinion on how the DNA of a person of interest became present within the sample collected. This review considers our current knowledge regarding DNA-TPPR to assist casework investigations of criminal activities. There is a growing amount of information available on DNA-TPPR to inform the relative probabilities of the evidence given alternative scenarios relating to the presence or absence of DNA from a specific person in a collected sample of interest. This information should be used where relevant. However, far more research is still required to better understand the variables impacting DNA-TPPR and to generate more accurate probability estimates of generating particular types of profiles in more casework relevant situations. This review explores means of achieving this. It also notes the need for all those interacting with an item of interest to have an awareness of DNA transfer possibilities post criminal activity, to limit the risk of contamination or loss of DNA. Appropriately trained forensic practitioners are best placed to provide opinion and guidance on the interpretation of profiles at the activity level. However, those requested to provide expert opinion on DNA-related activity level issues are often insufficiently trained to do so. We advocate recognition of DNA activity associated expertise to be distinct from expertise associated with the identification of individuals. This is to be supported by dedicated training, competency testing, authorisation, and regular fit for purpose proficiency testing. The possibilities for experts to report on activity-related issues will increase as our knowledge increases through further research, access to relevant data is enhanced, and tools to assist interpretations are better exploited. Improvement opportunities will be achieved sooner, if more laboratories and agencies accept the need to invest in these aspects as well as the training of practitioners.

/pdf/dna-transfer-in-forensic-science-a-review-2shgt6g9kb.pdf

DNA transfer in forensic science: A review.

With current methodology, DNA profiling can identify an individual from a sample of biological material but it does not reveal what body fluid or tissue source the DNA profile originated from. We have developed a multiplex PCR system using messenger RNA (mRNA) that can identify blood, saliva, semen and menstrual blood in individual stains or in mixtures of body fluids. Messenger RNA transcripts specific to each type of body fluid have been identified and a multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) system developed to identify these body fluids along with three housekeeping genes. This multiplex can detect semen and seminal fluid (semen without spermatozoa present). Furthermore, we have targeted the co-isolation of RNA and DNA from the same sample and, with the RT-PCR multiplex, we can determine the type of body fluid present as well as generate a DNA profile(s) from the same stain.

The development of a mRNA multiplex RT-PCR assay for the definitive identification of body fluids.

We have used the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region for identifying vaginal specific bacteria. Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus gasseri were detected in vaginal secretions but not in semen, blood or saliva. Our data indicated that both L. crispatus and L. gasseri were detected in vaginal secretions from women with different levels of expression of hormonal genes including pregnant, pre- and post-menopausal women, and a woman who has had a hysterectomy. Therefore, we have demonstrated that these Lactobacilli are promising new markers for the forensic identification of vaginal secretions. We have incorporated the Lactobacilli markers into a mRNA multiplex system to produce an 11-plex assay that can identify circulatory blood, menstrual blood, saliva, semen (in the presence and absence of spermatozoa) and vaginal secretions.

The use of bacteria for the identification of vaginal secretions

Body fluid identification is a key component in the forensic scientists' tool box and has been carried out both at the crime scene and in the laboratory for many years. Historically, methods relied on (bio) chemical-based tests, many of which lacked specificity. In this review, current technologies for identifying body fluids are described including the use of RNA (mRNA and miRNA), epigenetics, spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and micro-spectrophotometry, biosensors, and immunochromatographic methods which are outlined alongside their strengths and weaknesses. The potential for new insights into the identification of cells from new technologies such as massively parallel sequencing is explored. forensic science, body fluid identification

/pdf/forensic-body-fluid-identification-state-of-the-art-27kkp4lnlz.pdf

Forensic body fluid identification: state of the art

The use of messenger RNA profiling to identify the origin of biological samples (e.g. blood, semen and saliva) from crime scenes is now at the stage of being implemented into routine forensic casework. We report on the successful modification of the Promega DNA IQ™ system to enable co-extraction of DNA and RNA from the same sample without compromising the potential DNA profile. Using the protocol in our laboratory for extracting DNA using the DNA IQ™ system combined with the Zymo Research Mini RNA Isolation Kit™ II we demonstrate the simultaneous co-extraction of DNA and RNA from the same sample for routine DNA and mRNA profiling for the identification of both the individual and the biological stain.

A method for DNA and RNA co-extraction for use on forensic samples using the Promega DNA IQ™ system.

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) has facilitated a significant increase in transcriptomic studies in all biological disciplines. However, the analysis of degraded RNA remains a genuine challenge in practice. In forensic science the biological samples encountered are often extensively degraded and of low abundance. RNA from these compromised samples is used for body fluid identification through the detection of body fluid-specific transcripts. Here we demonstrate the sequencing of four forensically relevant body fluids: oral mucosa/saliva (buccal), circulatory blood, menstrual blood and vaginal fluid. RNA was extracted from fresh, two and six week aged samples. Despite the extensive degradation of most body fluids, significant high quality sequencing output (>80% sequence above Q30) was generated. An average of over 80% of reads from all but one sample aligned successfully to the reference human genome. Furthermore, FPKMs (fragments per kilobase of exon per million fragments mapped) generated indicate the accurate detection of known body fluid markers in respective body fluids. Assessment of global gene expression levels over degradation time enabled the characterisation of differential RNA degradation in different body fluids. This study demonstrates the practical application of MPS technology for the accurate analysis of degraded RNA from minimal samples.

Rachel Fleming

Papers

The development of a mRNA multiplex RT-PCR assay for the definitive identification of body fluids.

The use of bacteria for the identification of vaginal secretions

Forensic body fluid identification: state of the art

A method for DNA and RNA co-extraction for use on forensic samples using the Promega DNA IQ™ system.

Transcriptomic analysis of degraded forensic body fluids