NCJ Number
131245
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 991-998
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A sex determination technique for biological materials is described using DNA fingerprint agarose gel separation preceded by restriction endonuclease digestion.
Abstract
The simple sex diagnosis test was performed on fresh blood and semen samples as a source of DNA. The isolated DNA was digested with particular restriction endonuclease and fractionated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Ultraviolet visualization of ethidium bromide stained gels revealed a sex-specific banding pattern which depended only on the restriction enzyme used. These patterns are present only in human male DNA digests. Application of the method to biological materials recovered as criminal evidence for assailant identification in three particular sexual assault cases determined the sex of DNA in the rape cases. These data demonstrate that, in general, DNA preparations used for DNA fingerprint analysis are suitable for direct sex diagnosis on DNA fingerprint gel. They provide an intermediate control step in the DNA fingerprint analysis for assailant identification. 3 figures and 20 references (Author abstract modified)