Morphological likeness of the skeletal remains in a Central European family from 17th to 19th century.

In spite of a recent preferential application of molecular genetic methods to kinship determination of anonymous human skeletal remains, the classical anthropological methods cannot be rejected as they are simple, quick and give access to a large part of a genome. This paper deals with the extent of morphological skeletal similarity in persons of known genealogical relationship. The skeletal remains of eight individuals from the family tomb of the Swéerts-Sporck's noble family in castle Kuks, East Bohemia, Czech Republic were analysed. Basic personal details, as well as data on their genealogical relationship, were available. Individuals were compared according to 173 anatomical variants--epigenetic traits, 90 of which were located on the skull and 83 on the postcranial skeleton. For each trait the percentile coincidence and/or difference were calculated. We observed the highest coincidence between the father and his son. These two individuals showed both closest correlation in the presence and the least difference in the occurrence of anatomical variants, as well as a high value of paternal probability. Clear kinship was also detected among cousins of the same or opposite sex. However, kinship between brother and sister was not so evident. The greatest difference was observed amongst biologically unrelated family members such as women who married into the family. The individuals under investigation showed a significantly higher occurrence of three among four traits of the sella turcica (ponticulus carotico-clinoideus, ponticulus interclinoideus, taenia interclinoidea; 99% confidence). A significantly higher occurrence of the ponticuli basales ossis sphenoidalis, palatine torus and the costal articular surface on the body of 7th cervical vertebrae was also found (95% confidence). Our results, therefore, suggest that these morphological variants might be considered as family-specific traits.

[Detection of group characteristics and contamination with microorganisms]. / Prukaz skupinových vlastnosti a kontaminace mikroorganismy.

Evidence of group properties in traces and residues of human origin may be very difficult; very frequently in the same individual controversial results are obtained in different tissues but also in the same samples during repeated examinations. This was revealed by examinations of reliets from prehistorical findings as well as in remains of Czech historical personalities and contemporary important forensic cases, using different methods of detection, incl. the absorption elution test. The author discusses the condition of investigated residues and traces, the degree of decomposition of tissues due to the possible action of microorganisms with regard to assessment of group properties. The investigation revealed that in addition to the anticipated action of some microorganisms contaminating examined tissues, different transformation of group properties of the sample, and panaglutinability or disintegration of the entire ABO system, a possible effect of the organism's own serological activity of microorganisms on results must be also taken into account. Examination of different tissues of the individual, and if the results are controversial, examination of group properties of cultivated microorganisms makes it possible to eliminate to a certain extent the artificial component of results and makes the conclusions more accurate and helps to explain the interpretation of results.

[Personal experience with the detection of sperm using leucylaminopeptidase]. / Nase zkusenosti s prukazem spermatu pomocí leucylaminopeptidázy (LAP).

The detection of leucylaminopeptidase (LAP) has been carried out in human male and female sexual organ tissues and in vaginal smears through the use of histochemical methods. On the ground of the performed experiments it is possible to prefer the statement that the finding of a positive result of LAP activity testing might be used as a complementary method for obtaining indirect proof of the presence of sperm in vaginal smears. LAP activity may be demonstrated until the term of twelve hours following sexual intercourse.