NCJ Number
131268
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 1204-1212
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was applied to the analysis of DNA in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues from 14 individuals and to a paternity case involving a deceased father.
Abstract
Paired fixed premortem and postmortem specimens from 14 unrelated individuals from Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center were analyzed successfully with the PCR technique. Three different polymorphic loci, the human leucocyte antigen (HLA), DQ alpha, the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr), and the parathyroid hormone (PTH), were amplified by the PCR, and the alleles were identified after hybridization with allele specific oligomer. In all of the 14 cases, the genotypes from the autopsy and biopsy tissues from each individual were concordant. However, the 14 individuals could not be completely distinguished from each other by the analysis of one single polymorphic loci, but the combined HLA, PTH, and LDLr genotypes were completely different among the individuals. The application of this technique to a paternity suit showed that the genotype of the individual when compared with the genotypes of the mother and child was consistent with paternity. These results indicate that fixed tissues can be genotyped by the PCR. The paraffin embedded specimens provide an extensive resource for genetic forensic analysis. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 23 references (Author abstract modified)