In mass fatality events, the need to identify large numbers of deceased persons using DNA can be a significant drain on already overburdened forensic practitioners, both in the field setting and the laboratory. The laboratory may be required to extract DNA from a variety of postmortem sample types, family or direct reference samples related to the missing, and perform matching of these results in a short period of time. While most forensic institutions are well equipped to handle both family and direct reference samples, postmortem samples such as bone or heterogeneous tissue samples can be difficult for labs to analyze. The current study evaluated the suitability of a protocol involving swabbing of incisions made on cadavers and sample deposition onto FTA cards over various postmortem intervals and under different environmental conditions. Each trial took place during a different point in the calendar year to evaluate the effects of seasonal weather patterns and temperature on decomposition, DNA yield, and rates of DNA degradation. To further account for the effects of seasonality (temperature and humidity), the progression of body decomposition was recorded following the Total Body Score (TBS) method. DNA degradation was assessed either through STR amplification of 1.2mm FTA punches or DNA extraction from 3.0mm punches, followed by real-time PCR quantification and STR amplification and genotyping. No consistent relationship was observed between postmortem interval and DNA degradation. Instead, the TBS score, which captures the stage of body decomposition, was shown to correlate well with DNA quantity. A TBS of 15 and below consistently yielded strong partial or full profiles (20 STR loci and Amelogenin using the PowerPlex 21 System) for all individuals from either 1.2mm or 3.0mm punches. (publisher abstract modified)
An Economical and Efficient Method for Postmortem DNA Sampling in Mass Fatalities
NCJ Number
253340
Journal
Forensic Science International-Genetics Volume: 36 Dated: September 2018 Pages: 167-175
Date Published
September 2018
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This project devised an easily deployable, efficient, and inexpensive method for collecting postmortem DNA samples on commercially available DNA preservation cards ("FTA" cards), which are already widely used in forensic labs and are convenient for shipping due to their small volume and stability at room temperature.
Abstract
Date Published: September 1, 2018