A. Spinella, R. Biondo and P. Montagna
Servizio Polizia Scientifica - Div. III - Sez. Indagini Biologiche, V.le Aeronautica, 7-0144 Rome, Italy

× Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø × Ø

Polymorphic short tandem repeats (STRs) sequencing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were used in forensic laboratories as genetic markers especially in DNA typing of very small quantities of highly degraded samples.

We report the amplification of the DNA samples at the HUMTH01, HUMvWA31, HUMF13A1, HUMFES/FPS, HUMMBP, HUMFIBRA, HUMD21S11 and HUMD19S253 loci and control region mtDNA sequencing (HVI and HVII) in forensic casework.

STRs are used as a powerful method when we compared the DNA evidence sample with known individuals, but in some casework, such as the identification of human remains, DNA analysis is possible only by comparing DNA from tissue to DNA from potential relatives of the victim. When DNA samples are not available from relatives, the statistical power of STR loci for determining identity decreases, while the mtDNA sequencing can increase the power of identification.

MtDNA sequencing offers several advantages for identification because mtDNA is maternally inherited. Then remains can be identified by comparing the mtDNA sequence of the deceased with that of any maternal relative. Moreover, mtDNA is present in high copy number relative to nuclear DNA and contains highly polymorphic regions that are extremely powerful for the genetic identification. This report shows that STR loci and mtDNA sequencing are very important in identification of victims and in general for genetic identification.