NCJ Number
229591
Journal
Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: December 2009 Pages: 21-25
Date Published
December 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes a rapid and robust method to ascribe U/K and J/T mtDNAs (mitochondrial DNA) to specific sub-branches, setting up only a multiplex PCR and a SNaPshot minisequencing reaction for each of the selected sister haplogroups.
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) U/K and J/T are sister haplogroups within the superhaplogroup R. They are both common in Europe, with a combined overall frequency similar to the one reported for H, the most common European haplogroup (40-50 percent). In this study 159 Italian subjects were selected, already ascribed to U/K and J/T by RFLP typing, and assigned each mtDNA to specific clades/subclades by investigating at least one diagnostic coding region SNP. For each sister haplogroup, one multiplex PCR and one SNaPshot minisequencing reaction were set up targeting 16 U/K and 7 J/T coding region SNPs. Each mtDNA sample was clearly assigned to a specific subclade, which could be further subdivided into several minor sub-branches according to peculiar HVS I/II motifs. Such a molecular dissection of haplogroups U/K and J/T could be extremely useful to reduce the overall analysis time and labor intensive sequencing procedures in high volume forensic casework for example when it is important to rapidly exclude samples in order to restrict the number of suspects. Figure, table, appendix, and references (Published Abstract)