title: A rape case solved by mitochondrial DNA mixture analysis.
abstract: In cases of stains that contain mixed DNA from different contributors, analyzing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) requires the use of cloning techniques. We developed an efficient cloning technique that was applied in a rape case. After a differential lysis-based DNA extraction from vaginal swabs, hypervariable region I and II (HVI, HVII) amplicons obtained from the male fraction were cloned. Although we mainly found the victim's haplotype, we were able to detect the suspect's haplotype in two clones for HVI and in one clone for HVII. As the midpiece of the flagellum, which contains mitochondria, can be lost during the differential lysis, we also investigated the female fraction by cloning to evaluate the proportion of victim/suspect mtDNA. Unfortunately, only clones presenting the victim's haplotype were found. This case highlights the need for an optimal differential lysis protocol to enrich the male fraction not only with nuclear but also mitochondrial DNA.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Médecine Légale, EA 3428, 11 rue Humann, 67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France, and Laboratoire CODGENE, 11 rue Humann, 67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France. didier@hatsch.net
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatsch
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amory
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keyser
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hienne
authors.forename: Ludes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertrand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011902:Rape; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial