Individual Identification From Extremely Contaminated Forensic Specimens by Sequencing Cloned Mitochondrial D-loop Genes

• NCJ Number: 133325
• Journal: Japanese Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 233-241
• Author(s): T Tsukamoto; T Yoshii; Y Yamada; K Fukue; I Ishiyama
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Test/Measurement
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

Using trance amounts of a composite forensic specimen derived from several individuals, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragments of the human mitochondrial DNA were cloned, and the independent clones were sequenced to identify the individuals.

Abstract

In most cases of highly degraded specimens, amplification of mitochondrial DNA instead of chromosomal DNA is more suitable for forensic analysis because of its extremely high copy number and polymorphism. The cloning procedure simplified the correspondence of results to the individual. Except for 3 non-related individuals in the 34 cases analyzed which yielded identical sequences, the sequences in this segment were highly specific to each individual. This procedure is appropriate for the identification of individuals from trace amounts of highly contaminated and degraded forensic specimens. 6 figures, 2 tables, and 19 references (Author abstract modified)