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Multiplex-PCR: Application for Identification of Fire-VictimsE. Ambach, W. Parson, K. Zehethofer and R. Scheithauer PCR technique and Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Typing were applied to identify three bodies that were found burned after a traffic accident in a tunnel. The bodies were in unrecognizable condition, the car was burned-out totally; the number plate of the car, the chassis identification number, and the motor number were also destroyed by heat. First hints on the identity resulted from the number plate of an "abandoned" camping trailer, that was involved in the accident, but not destroyed by heat. DNA was extracted from the body of a vertebrae including inherent burned musculature from all three corpses. For further identification blood samples from the parents of the trailer's owner (putative male adult victim) were used. 1-3 ng DNA were amplified by multiplex PCR with a hot-start protocol. DNA fragments were separated on a 6% denaturing polyacrylamide sequencing gel, detected fluorescently on a 373A Strech Sequencer (ABI) and sized by an internal lane standard with the GeneScan 672 software (ABI) using the Local Southern method for band size estimation. HUMTH01, HUMvWFA31/A, HUMFES/FPS and HUMF13A1 were typed simultaneously and successfully (Quadruplex-PCR). The results confirmed the progeny of the burned male to the putative parents, the progeny of the burned child to the burned male and the motherhood of the burned female to the burned child. Identification was finished one and a half days after autopsy. Go to proceedings home page
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