Room Temperature DNA Preservation of Soft Tissue for Rapid DNA Extraction: An Addition to the Disaster Victim Identification Investigators Toolkit?

• NCJ Number: 221427
• Journal: Forensic Science International Genetics Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 29-34
• Author(s): E. A.M. Graham; E. E. Turk; G. N. Rutty
• Date Published: January 2008
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Ireland

Annotation

This study investigated the use of two buffer solutions (Oragene and LST) in the preservation of soft muscle tissue for DNA profiling and body identification.

Abstract

Results of the tests have shown that it is possible for full DNA profiles to be produced by the use of standard DNA extraction and amplification procedures over a time period, and that DNA profiling for identification of severely fragmented remains was successfully employed by using two buffer solutions investigated in this study. The use of preservation solutions also benefits the downstream processing of biological samples by removing the requirement for further manipulation of solid tissue. Every year a number of disasters occur throughout the world; these disasters are broadly classified as environmental, medical, industrial, vehicle, or terrorist. There is a legal and humanitarian requirement for the individual identification of victims and, in the case of body disruption, the re-association of remains both to aid the grieving relatives as well as for potential investigation of the incident. There are many methods for successful identification of the dead; however, these methods are dependent on the collection and preservation of suitable biological material from the deceased and the availability of a reference sample to which this DNA profile can be compared. In situations where buccal cells and/or blood are not available, an alternative biological sample must be collected. In the United Kingdom, recent incidents involving severe body disruption have led to the decision for scene recovery of those body parts greater than 5 centimeters, that is not bone or teeth. For preservation of soft tissue samples that may be collected during such investigations, the two investigated buffer solutions demonstrated a sufficient DNA preservation over a 12-month period of storage at room temperature to allow DNA profiling to be successfully performed. Table, references