D. Fugman, M. Crisp, A. Sahota and M.E. Hodes
Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University Medical Center,
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Our laboratory is called upon periodically by law enforcement agencies to perform DNA-based forensic identification using single locus probes. In most cases, reliable identifications have been performed by comparing RFLP patterns from the victim with those from the alleged parents or other family members. However, in several cases degradation of DNA from post-mortem samples appeared to cause band shifts for lower molecular weight (MW) RFLPs. We have devised a simple procedure to eliminate these band shifts by spooling the high MW DNA onto a glass capillary following the ethanol precipitation step. The capillary is removed and the high MW DNA dissolved in a small volume of TE buffer. Using this procedure, we have been able to eliminate band shifts observed in samples obtained 24 hours to 6 weeks post-mortem. This has enabled reliable identification of some forensic samples that we would have otherwise regarded as inconclusive.
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