title: Population data for 101 Austrian Caucasian mitochondrial DNA d-loop sequences: application of mtDNA sequence analysis to a forensic case.
abstract: The sequence of the two hypervariable segments of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was generated for 101 random Austrian Caucasians. A total of 86 different mtDNA sequences was observed, where 11 sequences were shared by more than 1 individual, 7 sequences were shared by 2 individuals and 4 sequences were shared by 3 individuals. One of the four most common mtDNA sequences in Austrians is also the most common sequence in both U.S. and British Caucasians, found in approximately 3.0% of Austrians, 4.0% of British, and 3.9% of U.S. Caucasians. Of the remaining three common Austrian sequences, one was not observed in either U.S. or British Caucasians. However, three British Caucasians exhibited a similar sequence type. Therefore, this particular cluster of sequence polymorphisms may represent a common "European" mtDNA sequence type. In general, Austrian Caucasians show little deviation from other Caucasian databases of European descent. Finally, mtDNA sequence analysis was applied to a forensic case, where hairs found at a crime scene matched the control hairs from the suspect.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Forensic Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Parson
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013800:Theft / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial