Polymerase chain reaction-based DNA analysis for gender identification of antemortem and postmortem human skin

ABSTRACT

Gender identification is an important investigative tool as it can be used to assess rapid information in forensic cases involving missing persons, intersex problems, mass disaster and in crime scenes. The aim of the present work was to assess the reliability of the skin as a tissue sample whether fresh or putrified for gender determination and to validate an application of gene print sex determination system. Forty skin samples were used [15 obtained from cadavers, and 25 from discarded surgically resected skin]. DNA extraction was done using two methods [crude and column] with two different kits, [Puregene cell, tissue kit and GFX purification kit]. Amplification of the single copy X-Y homologous amelogenin gene using PCR technology was followed. The results showed that DNA extracted by the column method was of high quality with no gross contaminants as compared to the crude method. The success rate of the amelogenin amplification was 100% in all skin samples [antemortem and postmortem]. It enabled gender identification from as low as 100 mg skin sample with low cost and less complicated technique. In conclusion the amelogenin gene sex determination system is a highly discriminating and reliable method and skin can be used as a good source for DNA extraction used for identification purposes: