title: Extraction of single-copy nuclear DNA from forensic specimens with a variety of postmortem histories.
abstract: Specimens of human bone, teeth and dried blood spots from 3 months to 91 years old, with a variety of postmortem histories, were used in a comparative study of recovery of single-copy nuclear DNA sequences from forensic material. Sequences of the amelogenin and HLA-DPB1 genes were chosen for their value in sexing and identification. Sequences of the mitochondrial non-coding region V were also amplified to compare the recovery of mitochondrial and single-copy nuclear DNA. A variation of the silica method for DNA extraction was refined for application to the forensic specimens in this sample. Single-copy nuclear DNA was amplified from 100% of recent postoperative bone specimens (n = 6), 80% of forensic teeth and bone specimens (n = 10), 78% of recently extracted teeth (n = 18), 78% of exhumed bone up to 91 years old (n = 37) and 69% of 15 year old bone specimens fixed in 10% formalin (n = 20). Amelogenin sexing was correct in 85% of cases (n = 74) in which the sex of the donor had been recorded. There was no correlation between the age of the specimen and the extent of DNA preservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Evison
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Smillie
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053523:Amelogenin; D001801:Blood Stains; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000737:chemistry; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D053523:Amelogenin; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; C071170:HLA-DPB1 antigen; D004247:DNA