title: Botanical DNA evidence in criminal cases: Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare L.) as a model species.
abstract: The possibilities and strategies for using DNA characteristics to link a botanical sample to a specific source plant or location vary with its breeding system. For inbreeding species, which often form small patches of identical genotypes, knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare L.) is a suitable model species because of its (1) occurrence in a wide range of natural environments, (2) abundant presence in pieces of evidence, and (3) ease in molecular processing. The value of knotgrass for forensic casework was demonstrated using data from a homicide case. Using the DNA fingerprinting technique AFLP(®) we were able to identify the knotgrass population at the crime site as the most likely origin of the botanical evidence. We expect that the development of tailored marker systems for knotgrass and other frequently occurring (model) species will considerably accelerate the use of botanical DNA evidence in criminal cases.
authors: Plant Research International, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. wim.koopman@quicknet.nl
authors: Wim J M
authors: WJ
authors: Koopman
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Kuiper
authors: Dick J A
authors: DJ
authors: Klein-Geltink
authors: Gerda J H
authors: GJ
authors: Sabatino
authors: Marinus J M
authors: MJ
authors: Smulders
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D028502:Polygonum / Q000235:genetics*; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant