title: Application of a mitochondrial DNA control region frequency database for UK domestic cats.
abstract: DNA variation in 402bp of the mitochondrial control region flanked by repeat sequences RS2 and RS3 was evaluated by Sanger sequencing in 152 English domestic cats, in order to determine the significance of matching DNA sequences between hairs found with a victim's body and the suspect's pet cat. Whilst 95% of English cats possessed one of the twelve globally widespread mitotypes, four new variants were observed, the most common of which (2% frequency) was shared with the evidential samples. No significant difference in mitotype frequency was seen between 32 individuals from the locality of the crime and 120 additional cats from the rest of England, suggesting a lack of local population structure. However, significant differences were observed in comparison with frequencies in other countries, including the closely neighbouring Netherlands, highlighting the importance of appropriate genetic databases when determining the evidential significance of mitochondrial DNA evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ottolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
authors.forename: Gurdeep Matharu
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lall
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Ltd., Grange House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7DN, UK.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sacchini
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK. Electronic address: maj4@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jobling
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; School of History, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK. Electronic address: jw418@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jon H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wetton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: DNA database; Domestic cat; Haplotype diversity; Mitochondrial DNA; Mitotype; Sanger sequencing