Alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein polymorphism in New Zealand Europeans and New Zealand Maori.

The polymorphism of alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG, alpha 2HS) was analysed in a sample of New Zealanders consisting of 194 New Zealand Europeans and 236 New Zealand Maori. Thin layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing followed by immunofixation revealed four different AHSG phenotypes in New Zealand Europeans and three different AHSG phenotypes in New Zealand Maori. The AHSG*2 frequency of 0.695 for the New Zealand Maori population was found to be one of the highest reported for any population. AHSG*2 appears to be a useful genetic marker for Maori in anthropological studies.

Alleged sexual violation of a human female by a Rottweiler dog.

An unusual case involving the alleged sexual violation of a woman by three men and a Rottweiler dog is described. Forensic examination proved difficult and showed little of evidentiary value but did reveal the presence of dog hairs at the scene, and semen from one of the men on the victim's panties. All attempts to locate and identify dog semen were unsuccessful. It was not clear whether dog semen could not be located using available techniques for semen identification, or whether dog semen was, in fact, not present at all.

Typing of human red cell and serum mixtures in three electrophoretic systems.

The isoenzymes erythrocyte acid phosphatase and phosphoglucomutase were typed in mixed red cell samples which had been derived from two individuals; the protein group specific component was typed in mixed serum samples. Typing was performed by isoelectric focusing on ultrathin polyacrylamide gels. Depending upon the mixture, from 2 to 20% (but typically 5-10%) by volume of a second blood or serum needed to be present in a mixture before it could be detected. In the majority of cases when there was significant mixing, samples were readily identified as a mixture when the results consisted of unusual band patterns or unusual band intensities. There would be a few instances when blood or serum could not be identified as a mixture when masking effects occurred or when the mixture produced a combined, apparently normal, pattern.

Behavior of animal blood in blood typing systems. Isoelectric focusing of erythrocyte acid phosphatase and phosphoglucomutase.

Isoenzyme band patterns of animal blood erythrocyte acid phosphatase (EAP) and phosphoglucomutase-1 (PGM) were studied by isoelectric focusing on ultrathin polyacrylamide gels. For blood from all animals tested (dog, cat, cow, sheep, and goat), the overall band patterns for both isoenzymes were different from those of the most common human types of these enzymes, although some animal EAP and PGM bands appeared in the human band areas. When mixtures of human and animal red blood cells were studied, it was found that misinterpretation of human types was possible only if the overall band pattern of the mixtures was ignored. For the animal blood tested, the strong PGM bands appearing outside the human band areas could be used as "markers" for the possible presence of animal blood in the samples tested.