Usefulness of conventional blood groups, DNA-minisatellites, and short tandem repeat polymorphisms in paternity testing: a comparison

Short tandem repeat (STRs) and sex specific Amelogenin analysis of blood samples from neurosurgical female transfused patients

Blood transfusion and its effects on DNA profiles of an individual is an important issue in the forensic context. In the present study, the effects of unfiltered whole male blood transfusion in seven female subjects were investigated by PCR-based assays on serial post-transfusion blood samples. PCR analysis of specific short tandem repeat (STR) primer pair to CSF1PO, TPOX, TH01, F13A01, FESFPS, vWA and sex specific Amelogenin loci for banding pattern of alleles generated from the pre- and post-transfusion of seven female recipients and their corresponding donors were studied. Pre- and post-transfusion DNA profiles of all the seven female recipients were found to be consistent with no evidence of the male and female donor genetic material. It is concluded that currently used PCR-based STRs and sex specific Amelogenin loci DNA profiling techniques in forensic science are reliable and informative for paternity and identity purposes in situations of transfusion of 1 or 2 U of unfiltered whole male and female blood (> 72 h old) to female recipient up to 24 h post-transfusion.

Individual identification by DNA polymorphism using formalin-fixed placenta with whole genome amplification

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using formalin-fixed material is very limited. In the present study the use of 6 week formalin-fixed placenta for individual identification was examined based on DNA analyses. The objective of the examination was to prove whether the placenta was from a woman who had just given birth. DNA extraction was carried out from the maternal blood sample and from the formalin-fixed placental samples composed of three parts: maternal side, infant side and umbilical cord. One minisatellite (D1S80), 12 short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms and amelogenin X, Y were investigated. All the polymorphic systems were detected in the maternal blood sample. The majority of the DNA isolated from the placental tissues had molecular weights of approximately 500 bp, and only two to four STR loci were amplified using the DNA. In order to amplify more DNA polymorphic markers from the formalin-fixed tissues, whole genome amplification was performed. After amplification by degenerate oligonucleotide-primed PCR (DOP-PCR), the products contained DNA with increased molecular weight up to >10 kbp. More DNA loci were typed using the DOP-PCR products. Furthermore, large molecular size fragments were purified from the DOP-PCR products by agarose electrophoresis, and then the D1S80 locus and 12 STR loci were successfully amplified using these fragments.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction: HLA-DQA1 and polymarker analysis of blood samples from transfusion recipients

The effect of blood transfusion on DNA profiles of an individual is a significant issue in the forensic context. In the present study, the effects of blood transfusion in 5 recipients were studied by performing restriction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction HLA-DQA1 and Polymarker (LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and GC) assays (Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, NJ) on serial posttransfusion blood samples. Pretransfusion and posttransfusion DNA profiles of all 5 recipients were consistent with no evidence of the donor genetic material. Currently used DNA profiling techniques in forensic science are reliable and informative for paternity and identity purposes in situations involving transfusion of 1 or 2 U of blood up to 24 hours posttransfusion.