title: The successful recovery of low copy number and degraded DNA from bones exposed to seawater suitable for generating a DNA STR profile.
abstract: A universal method allowing for DNA profiling from bones exposed to seawater has not been reported yet. This study refers on the identification of a body immersed in seawater for 8 months. The biological material for identification was the mandibular body, usually characterized by low success rates of DNA analysis. Initially, two extraction protocols were performed with negative results: one used for bones immersed in fresh water and a silica-column procedure. A third protocol was performed, which combined the extraction of a higher amount of bone powder, the use of multi-silica-based extraction columns followed by a concentration step. This protocol allowed to obtain low copy number DNA and to generate a 12-loci STR profile by combining conventional STR typing and mini-STR technologies. This protocol could be suitable when human bones have been exposed to severe environmental conditions, and the available nuclear DNA is highly degraded and in low copy number.
authors: Reparto Investigazioni Scientifiche Carabinieri di Cagliari, Piazza San Bartolomeo 29, 09126, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Mameli
authors: Gavino
authors: G
authors: Piras
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Delogu
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D053836:DNA Degradation, Necrotic; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000737:chemistry*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011208:Powders; D012623:Seawater; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011208:Powders; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004247:DNA
keywords: QIAcube system; forensic genetics; forensic science; low copy number DNA; mandibular body; mini-STR technology; multi-silica-based DNA extraction; seawater