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Discrimination of Soils at Regional and Local Levels Using Bacterial and Fungal T-RFLP Profiling

NCJ Number
233657
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 61-69
Author(s)
Catriona A. Macdonald, Ph.D.; Robina Ang, B.Eng.; Stephen J. Cordiner, Ph.D.; Jacqui Horswell, Ph.D.
Date Published
January 2011
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study tested the ability of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) to discriminate between soils from 10 sites within the Greater Wellington region, New Zealand, based on their bacterial and fungal DNA profiles.
Abstract
DNA profiling of microbial communities has been proposed as a tool for forensic comparison of soils, but its potential to discriminate between soils from similar land use and/or geographic location has been largely unexplored. In the current study, significant differences in bacterial and fungal communities between soils collected from all but one pair of sites were demonstrated. In some instances, specific terminal restriction fragments were associated with particular sites. Patch discrimination was evident within several sites, which could prove useful for site-specific matching (e.g., matching shoe/car tire print to an object). These results support the need for further understanding of the spatial distribution of soil microbial communities before DNA profiling of soil microbial communities can be applied to the forensic context. (Published Abstract) Tables, figures, and references

Sponsoring Agency
Foundation for Science and Research and Technology
Address

Level 11, AT&T Tower, 15 - 17 Murphy St, Wellington 6144, New Zealand

Publication Format
Article
Publication Type
Report (Study/Research)
Language
English
Country
United States of America