Quality and quantity of extracted deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) from preserved soft tissues of putrefied unidentifiable human corpse.
BACKGROUND
The appropriate collection and preservation of soft tissues from putrefied unidentifiable human corpse for the purpose of identification using DNA profiling technique is critically important especially in developing countries like India having different levels of health-care set ups with largely varying facilities and varying climatic conditions.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was carried out, mainly focusing on quality and quantity of extracted DNA from the soft tissues of putrefied unidentifiable human corpse stored upto 4 weeks at 4°C and at -80°C for DNA analysis.


METHODS
The present study was conducted on 16 different putrefied unidentifiable human corpses after getting approval from institutional ethical committee. Around 2 g of four different tissues (brain, kidney, heart and muscle) were collected and preserved for one month followed by DNA extraction using the organic method, the quality and quantity of high molecular weight-DNA was estimated using the spectrophotometer and gel electrophoresis. Further, the amplification polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also performed (AmpFLSTR(®) Indentifiler™ PCR Amplification kit for multiple loci, of Applied Biosystems, Lab India) and was checked using continuous PAGE.


RESULTS
The yield of DNA was significantly higher at -80°C for all the four tissues collected and was best for brain followed by heart, kidney and worst for muscles in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that the brain tissue preserved at -80°C is the best among soft issues for DNA extraction. Refrigeration or deep freezing facility should be available at all the centers.
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Shashank
S
Pooniya
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Sanjeev
S
Lalwani
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Anupuma
A
Raina
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Tabin
T
Millo
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Tirath Das
TD
Dogra
DNA-profiling; putrefaction; soft tissues.