title: Complete discrimination of six individuals based on high-resolution melting of hypervariable regions I and II of the mitochondrial genome.
abstract: Analysis of mitochondrial DNA in forensic samples is routinely carried out by direct sequencing of hypervariable regions within the non-coding displacement loop. Although the accuracy and sensitivity of this method cannot be questioned, it is both time-consuming and labor intensive. Finding a way to rapidly pre-screen forensic samples-prior to sequencing, to reduce the number of samples that need to be sequenced-would greatly benefit forensic laboratories. Herein, we describe an assay for discrimination of DNA from different individuals based on high-resolution melting analysis of the two hypervariable regions HVI and HVII of the mitochondrial genome. By clearly distinguishing the DNA melting curves of six different individuals, we show that this assay has the potential to function as a rapid and inexpensive pre-screening method for forensic samples prior to DNA sequencing.
authors.affiliation: AlphaHelix Molecular Diagnostics AB, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olof
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gidlöf
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burvall
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edvinsson
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montelius
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molin
mesh_terms: D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial