scholarly journals Validation of Half-reaction Volumes of the Promega PowerPlex® Forensic Amplification Kits (PowerPlex® 18D Systems, PowerPlex ® 21System, PowerPlex® Fusion System and PowerPlex® Y23 System) in STR Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-171
Author(s):  
Hanan K. Mahmood ◽  
Nadia F. Salman ◽  
Dhurgham H. Hasan ◽  
Khaleefah M. Salih ◽  
Maryam A. Sadiq ◽  
...  

DNA amplification is known to be the most expensive step during forensic DNA analysis. This study evaluated the half-reaction amplification protocol (12.5 µL PCR product) using DNA amplification kits from Promega PowerPlex® (PowerPlex® 18D System, PowerPlex ®21System, PowerPlex® Fusion System and PowerPlex® Y23 System), which might aid in reducing sample analysis cost by half and allow the analysis of more samples. A sensitivity study (15 samples) along with testing of various blood stain samples (n=100) that were submitted to the Medico-Legal Directorate laboratory for DNA testing was accomplished to compare the DNA profiles resulting from half-reaction volume procedure to those with full-reaction volume procedure, using three differed methods along with standard protocol to evaluate the effect of half reaction volume with some variables. Results demonstrated the use of half-reaction amplification protocol preceded by washing step for all aforementioned DNA amplification kits gave a robust and reliable amplification result that aid to increase the number of samples analyzed and decreased the test cost for each kit without compromising the quality of 3DNA profiles obtained.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 7067
Author(s):  
Brigitte Bruijns ◽  
Roald Tiggelaar ◽  
Han Gardeniers

Reducing the risk of (cross-)contamination, improving the chain of custody, providing fast analysis times and options of direct analysis at crime scenes: these requirements within forensic DNA analysis can be met upon using microfluidic devices. To become generally applied in forensics, the most important requirements for microfluidic devices are: analysis time, method of DNA detection and biocompatibility of used materials. In this work an overview is provided about biosensing of DNA, by DNA profiling via standard short tandem repeat (STR) analysis or by next generation sequencing. The material of which a forensic microfluidic device is made is crucial: it should for example not inhibit DNA amplification and its thermal conductivity and optical transparency should be suitable for achieving fast analysis. The characteristics of three materials frequently used materials, i.e., glass, silicon and PDMS, are given, in addition to a promising alternative, viz. cyclic olefin copolymer (COC). New experimental findings are presented about the biocompatibility of COC and the use of COC chips for multiple displacement amplification and real-time monitoring of DNA amplification.


2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-72
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kuffel ◽  
Alexander Gray ◽  
Niamh Nic Daeid

AbstractInhibition of PCR by metal ions can pose a serious challenge in the process of forensic DNA analysis. Samples contaminated with various types of metal ions encountered at crime scenes include swabs from metal surfaces such as bullets, cartridge casings, weapons (including guns and knives), metal wires and surfaces as well as bone samples which contain calcium. The mechanism behind the impact of metal ions on DNA recovery, extraction and subsequent amplification is not fully understood. In this study, we assessed the inhibitory effects of commonly encountered metals on DNA amplification. Of the nine tested metals, zinc, tin, iron(II) and copper were shown to have the strongest inhibitory properties having IC50 values significantly below 1 mM. In the second part of the study, three commercially available DNA polymerases were tested for their susceptibility to metal inhibition. We found that KOD polymerase was the most resistant to metal inhibition when compared with Q5 and Taq polymerase. We also demonstrate how the calcium chelator ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) can be used as an easy and non-destructive method of reversing calcium-induced inhibition of PCR reactions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 98-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Borovko ◽  
Alena Shyla ◽  
Victorya Korban ◽  
Alexandra Borovko

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuele Manzoni ◽  
Andrea Ossoli ◽  
Venusia Cortellini ◽  
Andrea Verzeletti

Forensic examination of human remains is a complex process that relies on the contribution of multidisciplinary forensic medicine specialties. Here we present a complex forensic case regarding a double murder whose victims were found almost completely skeletonized. Post-mortem investigations allowed us to define the biological profile of the two bodies (ancestry, sex, age and stature), to discover their identity through forensic DNA analysis, and to detect peri-mortem injuries caused by firearms and stabbing weapons. Three men were recognized as involved in the crime and two of them were condemned to life imprisonment for homicide. The judges accepted the reconstruction of the crime promoted by the Prosecutor (double firearm murder).


BioTechniques ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 951-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Hedman ◽  
Anders Nordgaard ◽  
Birgitta Rasmusson ◽  
Ricky Ansell ◽  
Peter Rådström

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
Р. Л. Степанюк ◽  
С. І. Перлін

The authors of the article have studied the problems and perspectives of the formation of specific branch of forensic technology, which is devoted to DNA analysis in order to solve the tasks arising in criminal proceeding. Particular attention has been paid to the lack of a corresponding component in the domestic system of forensic technology, unlike the forensic science of foreign countries. The necessity of development of forensic DNA analysis as an independent branch of forensic technology has been argued. It is confirmed by the following main arguments: the methodology of this field of research is based on the theory of forensic identification; its objects are traces of human and other living organisms; DNA analysis technologies are developed using the achievements of different sciences and adapted to solve problems of crime detection and investigation; they are aimed to ensuring the activities of law enforcement agencies in counteracting crime; the scope of DNA analysis application in crime combating should not be limited to forensic activities; legislative regulation of collecting and using personal genetic data is essential; DNA analysis technologies in terms of practical significance and fundamental scientific basis exceed all other branches of forensic technology. The authors have offered to define forensic DNA analysis as the branch of forensic technology that studies individual genetic characteristics of living organisms contained in their DNA, in order to identify them and solve diagnostic tasks in the detection and investigation of criminal offenses. Its structure has been determined. The authors have provided perspective development directions of forensic DNA analysis: ensuring the appropriate state of legislative regulation of relations in the field of selection and use of personal genetic information; implementation of effective means and methods of detection and removal of biological traces and samples; improvement of methods of forensic DNA testing; formation of recommendations concerning the peculiarities of using DNA analysis results for proving; development of the latest technologies of forensic DNA analysis.


Biosensors ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Bruijns ◽  
Arian van Asten ◽  
Roald Tiggelaar ◽  
Han Gardeniers

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