NCJ Number
223874
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 53 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 858-861
Date Published
July 2008
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper presents three examples from routine database DNA typing in which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) failure occurred at the amelogenin gene (gender misidentification) using commercial short-tandem-repeat (STR) kits.
Abstract
Two DNA samples were from suspects of Bedouin origin, nomadic Arabs from the Negev, who live in large family or tribal groups. Although both samples had the same last name, and both had been collected and sent from the same geographical region, no familial connection between the two subjects was made known to the analysts. Upon DNA typing, the two samples provided AMEL Y-deficient genotypes using both SGM Plus (Applied bios stems, Foster City, CA) and Puerile (Promega Corporation, Madison WI) STR multiplex kits. The presence of their Y chromosome was consequently demonstrated by obtaining complete Y-STR profiles from both samples, using Yfiler kit (Applied Biosystems). Without complete demographic information for these two suspect samples, analysts were unable to determine their familial relationship. In the third case, analysts obtained a DNA profile from a phenotypic ally male suspect’s sample using the SGM Plus kit. The chromosome specific AMEL allele failed to amplify, but the chromosome allele was observed. A profile lacking the allele representing the X homolog from a male sample would not have resulted in gender misidentification, but it suggests that the frequency of such occurrence may be greater than realized. In the case of a mass disaster or large-scale terrorist attack, where detached and isolated body parts must be typed and identified, a failure to amplify at the amelogenin gene may lead to an erroneous sex determination of the victim. As the number of reported cases of amplification failure at the amelogenin gene continues to increase, the authors suggest that the incorporation of a better gender identification tool in commercial kits is crucial. 1 table, 2 figures, and 13 references