Application of BioRobot M48 to DNA Extraction From Biological Specimens Analysed in Forensic Investigations

• NCJ Number: 226737
• Journal: Problems of Forensic Sciences Volume: 76 Dated: 2008 Pages: 369-381
• Author(s): Agnieszka Parys-Proszek; Wojciech Branicki; Paulina Wolanska-Nowak; Tomasz Kupiec
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Poland

Annotation

This study assessed the ability of the BioRobot 48 to extract DNA from typical biological traces (i.e., blood, saliva, and hair roots) and traces subjected to heavy degradation processes, based on magnetic separation.

Abstract

The automatic method of DNA extraction from typical trace samples based on BioRobot M48 enables the isolation of DNA from 48 samples in just 2.5 hours, an improvement in the previous method of DNA extraction using the phenol-chloroform method. The findings indicate that magnetic extraction using BioRobot M48 can completely replace the phenol-chloroform method in extracting DNA from typical biological traces; however, in the case of biological samples subjected to serious decomposition, resulting in DNA defragmentation (old bones and decayed tissues), the phenol-chloroform extraction method is more effective and efficient than BioRobot M48. Given the significant variation in the quality of forensic samples submitted for DNA extraction, it is advisable to routinely extend incubation time to over 2 hours, and in the case of low-quality biological traces, even up to 24 hours. Generally, this maintains higher DNA concentrations in samples subjected to DNA extraction using BioRobot M48 apparatus. This raises the chance for positive results of genetic analysis. The study material consisted of typical biological traces collected in the course of routine expert work, as well as specimens that constituted reference samples. Ten contact traces that contained minimum amounts of DNA were also subjected to analysis. All the samples were divided into two parts. The first part was subjected to magnetic DNA extraction with BioRobot M48, and the second sample was subjected to DNA isolation with the phenol-chloroform procedures. Samples of bones, paraffin embedded soft tissues, decayed soft tissues, and strongly decayed blood samples represented specimens that contained seriously degraded DNA. 3 tables, 4 figures, and 18 references