Species Specificity of a Commercial AmpFLSTR(R) MiniFiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit / 대한법의학회지

Recently forensic scientists have focused on extending the applicability of STR to degraded or tiny amount DNA. Short amplicon may be one of the solutions to these samples and several commercial kits are available for this purpose. Before practical casework, validation is necessary for newly introduced kit. We tried to check how newly introduced STR kit, AmpFLSTR(R) MiniFiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit, reacts with some animal DNAs. We tried 27 animal DNA samples and checked whether the above kit amplify animal DNA, and next how the band appears on electropherogram. We compared the results with popular STR kits. With AmpFLSTR(R) MiniFiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit, we could get several bands on electropherogram for some species, but we could not designate proper allelic number compared to allelic ladder for most loci except the following loci, D13S317, D2S1338, D21S11, D18S51, FGA. The D18S51 locus was outstanding in that some species showed definite designated alleles, but the allelic number was not different depending on species. This was the same with another popular STR kit, AmpFLSTR(R) Identifiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit, which was from the same company. The another kit from another company, PowerPlex(R) 16 System showed different phenomenon with more increased number of amplified bands which were usually differ on size when compared to allelic ladder.

Unusual mtDNA sequencing results from ancient DNA / 대한법의학회지

Sequence analysis of human mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) is being used widely to characterize individual identification, particularly when there is insufficient nuclear DNA in samples for typing. Hair shafts, bones, teeth and other samples that are severely decomposed may be subjected to mtDNA analysis. As sample decomposes, however, the possibility of mtDNA to be degraded becomes high and the possibility of spurious results becomes high. In this case mtDNA sequencing results must be carefully analyzed. We got unusual results while typing two human bone samples, which were not compatible with human mtDNA sequence. Bones were about 50 and 35 years old. We report the results with discussions about ancient DNA sequencing.

State of Individual Identification Using Genetic Polymorphism in Korea: Step to Criminal DNA Bank / 대한법의학회지

There have been several attempts for criminal DNA profiling in Korea, but ended without any fruitful results. Recently new movement for the profiling has just been started. Many have to be solved in advance, which can be divided largely into two, technical aspects and legal system which could support the application. To build up profiling for any purpose, work for the standardization must be driven, because many are involved in the work. Authors have checked the status of the DNA typing in Korea and have reviewed its quality by statistical approach. All the popular forensic journals, Korean or international covering from 1997 to 2004, were reviewed to check whether it contains articles on Korean. All the articles containing genetic data on Korean were selected and their results were compared statistically. Total 67 articles were chosen. Articles were on 116 loci, among which 54 were autosomal, 32 were Y chromosomal and the remaining were X chromosomal. Among 32 Y chromosomal loci, 11 were bi-allelic. For the 50 loci two or more lab reported separately. For these loci the results from different lab were compared. There was no statistically significant difference for most of the loci, but some of the loci, especially on Y chromosomal STR loci, showed some differences. Data were showed with some review.

Heteroplasmy Pattern Within D-loop Region of Mitochondrial DNA in Koreans / 대한법의학회지

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing has been validated as a useful tool in forensics. However, there are several aspects that need to be considered in order for it to be used as firm evidence in a courtroom. Heteroplasmy is one of those. Heteroplasmy means the status that different mtDNA populations exist in a single individual, tissue, cell or even mitochondrion. As the underlying phenomenon of heteroplasmy and polymorphism is similar, care must be taken in analyzing the data from the samples with heteroplasmy. Heteroplasmy can reinforce the use of mtDNA however if we know a lot about it. For this much has to be revealed. In this we screened 494 unrelated Korean using DGGE for the D-loop to determine how frequent heteroplasmy is, and the heteroplasmy pattern was confirmed through sequencing. This paper discussed the results of a comparison with other reports along with several aspects of heteroplasmy.

Bi-allelic loci on Y chromosome in Korean / 대한법의학회지

Recently studies about bi-allelic markers such as SNP, which is commonly found in about every 1.2 kb, seem to be increasing. Compared to STR marker, much have to be improved if it is to be used for individual identification. Nevertheless many researchers have interests in SNP and it 's scope is unpre-dictable. SNP may be promising as an auxiliary tool in individual identification, especially in Y chromo-somal study, in which the usefulness of conventional STR markers are restricted as the concept of haplo-type is applied. We report allelic distribution pattern in Korean for several previously known bi-allelic markers, that are SY81, M9, SRY1532, SRY2627, YAP. In three loci that are SY81, SRY1532, SRY2627, no polymorphism was noted. In M9, YAP loci, bi-allel-ic polymorphism was noted. In M9, 79.3% was G-type, and C-type was 20.7%. The YAP insertion was positive only in 6%. Remaining 94% was YAP(-). These pattern was compared with that of other popu-lation, and racial difference was evident. Several key points about SNP were discussed.