0000000000485257
AUTHOR
M.k. Balogh
Application of Nanogen microarray technology for forensic SNP analysis
Abstract The NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation using electronic microarrays is an approach for rapid and high throughput analysis of SNPs. This instrument is fully automated and uses a microchip for electronic addressing of capture probes to specific array sites followed by electronic hybridisation of the single stranded PCR products, and passive hybridisation of fluorescently labelled reporter probes. Discrimination is achieved by applying thermal stringency to denature the mismatched reporters. 48 SNP assays have been designed using the ‘capture down’ assay which applies a thermal ‘touch down’ strategy to obtain the best reporter probe discrimination.
Fingerprints from fingerprints
Besides ‘‘classical’’ biological materials such as blood and sperm, epithelial cells from latent fingerprints are targeted in forensic sciences. In addition to studies using latent fingerprints applied to beer glasses [1], T-shirts left on crime scenes [2] and various other objects [3], we report the detection of STR profiles from latent fingerprints deposited on ordinary sheets of paper. In contrast to the relatively high number of epithelial cells from saliva or from excessively pressured fingerprints during strangulation [4,5], the experiments with latent fingerprints are expected to generate only a very small number of epithelial cells. Moreover, cells remaining on objects touched only …
Application of whole genome amplification for forensic analysis
Abstract Fundamental to most forensic analyses is the availability of genomic DNA of adequate quality and quantity. To perform a multitude of genetic analyses and assays requires a sufficiently large amount of template. However, DNA yield from forensic samples is frequently limiting the extent of genetic typing. A possible solution to overcome this “bottleneck” of forensic and paleoarcheological DNA analyses could be the amplification of the entire genomic DNA prior to locus specific PCR analysis. Whole Genome Amplification appears to be a promising tool to obtain sufficient DNA amounts from forensic samples of limited quantity.
The effect of whole genome amplification on samples originating from more than one donor
Abstract In this study, the GenomiPhi™ DNA Amplification Kit (Amersham Biosciences) was used to investigate the potential of whole genome amplification (WGA) when considering samples originating from more than one donor. DNA was extracted from blood samples, quantified and normalised before being mixed in ratios of 1:1, 1:3, 1:7 and 1:15. Proportions were checked using standard STR analysis before being subjected to WGA. Once amplified using GenomiPhi™, the ratios were again checked. Relative proportions were found to be maintained in the 1:1 and 1:3 ratios following WGA; the observed peak ratios were found to match the expected peak ratios regardless of the starting concentration of DNA. W…