qPCR and mtDNA SNP analysis of experimentally degraded hair samples and its application in forensic casework.
A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quantification PCR (qPCR) method was developed and applied in a study with experimentally degraded hair samples (first study) and in a criminal case (second study). In the first study, the amount of detectable mtDNA decreased drastically after an incubation time of 1 month on a moist tissue in a heating cabin at 37 degrees C. In the second study, when the qPCR assay showed positive quantification results, further analysis of 32 mtDNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) via SNaPshot technique was always possible, indicating that successful mtDNA SNP analysis of forensic samples can be guaranteed by pre-screening samples with the qPCR described here.
Köhnemann
Stephan
S
Institute of Legal Medicine, Röntgenstr. 23, 48149 Münster, Germany. Stephan.Koehnemann@ukmuenster.de
Pennekamp
Petra
P
Schmidt
Peter Fritz
PF
Pfeiffer
Heidi
H
D000328:Adult; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D006200:Hair Color; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013048:Specimen Handling
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial