NCJ Number
183892
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 6 Dated: November 1999 Pages: 1186-1198
Date Published
November 1999
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) assay has been developed for comparative identity and homogeneity testing of the mtDNA HV1 region; the current study tested 49 pairs of sequences, each pair differing by a single unique polymorphism to verify the reliability of the assay.
Abstract
Discrimination between all pairings was achieved as judged by the resolution of the mismatch-containing heteroduplexes from the fully base-paired homoduplexes. In all but two pairings, resolution of the fully base-paired homoduplexes was also obtained. Sequence pairs differing by multiple polymorphisms were also tested and resulted in a greater separation between the homo- and heteroduplexes. Additional information derived from the technique includes the identification of co-amplifying contaminating or heteroplasmic samples in the independent samples' lanes. Thirteen heteroplasmic samples, six at positions distinct from those analyzed in the pairwise comparison study, were analyzed and the heteroplasmic positions identified unambiguously by sequencing the excised bands. The technique constitutes a conceptually simple, accurate, and inexpensive test for determining whether two sequences match within the mtDNA HV1 region, while providing a more definitive control for the identification of co-amplifying contaminating or heteroplasmic sequences than is presently available. 8 figures, 2 tables, and 69 references