title: Logical Framework of Forensic Identification: Ability to Resist Fabricated DNA.
abstract: Over the past 30 years, DNA analysis has revolutionized forensic science and has become the most useful single tool in the multifaceted fight against crime. Today, DNA profiling with sets of highly polymorphic autosomal short tandem repeat markers is widely employed and accepted in the courts due to its high discriminating power and reliability. However, an artificial bloodstain purposefully created using molecular biology techniques succeeded in tricking a leading forensic DNA laboratory. The disturbing possibility that a forensic DNA profile can be faked shocked the general public and the mass media, and generated serious discussion about the credibility of DNA evidence. Herein, we present two exemplary assays based on tissue-specific methylation patterns and cell-specific mRNA expression, respectively. These two assays can be integrated into the DNA analysis pipelines without consumption of additional samples. We show that the two assays can not only distinguish between artificial and genuine samples, but also provide information on tissue origin. The two assays were tested on natural and artificial bloodstains (generated by polymerase chain reaction and whole genome amplification technique) and the results illustrated that the logical framework of forensic identification is still useful for forensic identification with the high credibility.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, West Guangfu Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.|State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetic, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Shanghai, 200051, China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, West Guangfu Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.|State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetic, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Suhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, West Guangfu Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.
authors.forename: Yingnan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, West Guangfu Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, West Guangfu Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.
authors.forename: Ruxin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetic, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Daru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, West Guangfu Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China. lichengtaohla@163.com.
authors.forename: Chengtao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019175:DNA Methylation; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D056426:Genetic Loci; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Artificial DNA; Body fluid identification; Forensic identification; Methylation; mRNA