Kamis, 17 Juli 2014







P-230
Multiplexing autosomal and Y-STRs loci as a powerful tool for solving old a new criminal cases

Pizzamiglio M1, Marino A1, Stabile M1 and Garofano L1

1 Raggruppamento Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche, Reparto di Parma, Italy


In this paper we refer to a partial DNA match, from evidence linked to two different robberies occurring almost three years apart, in two different and distant towns in Northern Italy.
According to these results, we decided to reanalyse the evidence still available, with both IdentifilerTM  by ABD and Powerplex 16TM by Promega, in order to verify a possible parentage. We also submitted our evidence to the new Yfiler Kit by ABD. The results we obtained were the following:
-        12 STRs loci out of 17, identical in both sets of evidence ;
-        5 STRs loci exhibiting one allele in common ;
-        16 Y-STRs loci identical in both evidence sets, showing the same haplotype.
This supported the hypothesis that parentage was more than likely and gave strong support to the investigation, allowing police to identify and arrest the guilty parties at a later date.
Once more, it is to be stressed that when we are faced with criminal investigations it is strongly recommended to examine a large number of both autosomal STRs as well as Y-STRs.  This is the only way for forensic scientists to obtain the most complete genetic information possible and be able to assist in difficult and complex investigations, especially when only degraded or very small samples are available.
lugaro@tin.it



P-231
The use of Y STRs in rape cases associated to kinship relation

Pizzamiglio M1,  Marino A1,  Tempesta P1 and Garofano L1.

1 Raggruppamento Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche, Reparto di Parma, Italy

The aim of this study is to show the usefulness obtained by combining autosomal and Y STRs in casework, especially when faced with rapes in which we commonly have to analyse male/female mixed material. In particular, we refer to two rape cases in which, starting from the partial match coming from the autosomal STRs, applied on the exhibits, we decided to run the Y STRs. This allowed us to provide additional information based on parentage hypothesis that proved to be essential for investigation and the subsequent identification of the culprits.
lugaro@tin.it












P-232
DNA typing from a persimmon helps solve a murder case

Pizzamiglio M1,  Marino A1, Tullio V1, Denari D1 and Garofano L1.

1 Raggruppamento Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche, Reparto di Parma, Italy


As is well known, saliva is nowadays considered good evidence from which to obtain full DNA profiles. In this case we report about a murder in a small village near Venice in which, among other exhibits, a persimmon was collected from the garden outside the crime scene. The fruit had been bitten into by someone linked to the murder, just before he entered the victim’s house.
 Due to the consistency of the persimmon, and the DNA degradation caused by bacteria and fungi easily proliferated in the sugar content of the fruit, we decided to sample the small amount of saliva left by the suspect, with three dacron swabs, gently rubbed on the fruit, as soon as the evidence came into our lab. We then proceeded with DNA extraction, quantification, amplification and typing by multiplex STRs analyses, using the commercially available kits.
A complete STR profile was obtained from two out of three of the swabs used. This profile was then compared with several individuals and allowed us to identify the person who bit into the fruit. This person was then interrogated, and he not only   admitted his guilt but also gave to the police new leads which allowed them to catch the rest of the gang.
lugaro@tin.it




P-233
AmpFSTR® Y-filer™: a new tool for rapid Y-str forensic haplotyping

Pontes ML1, Abrantes D1, Lima G1, Cainé L1, Pereira MJ1, Matos P1, Pinheiro MF1,2

1Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal – Delegação do Porto
2Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde – Universidade Fernando Pessoa


In addition to the standard panel of autosomal loci used in forensic genetics, Y-STR haplotyping gives the ability to sensitive typing of male-specific DNA especially in sexual assault cases or other situations where mixtures of male and female cells are present. Within the last years a number of Y-STR multiplex assays have been developed, most of them involving six or fewer loci, with some exceptions. Recently a new commercial kit has been available, the AmpFSTR® Y-filer™ PCR amplification kit (Applied Biosystems) that permits the simultaneous amplification of 17 Y-STR loci, including all the markers in the actually used European “extended haplotype” (DYS19, DYS189I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385I/II, DYS438 and DYS439) and also DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and Y GATA H4. The DNA was extracted from healthy unrelated males from peripheral blood and oral swabs samples, using different methods (Chelex and phenol-chloroform). The amplified products were detected on the ABI PRISM® 3100 genetic analyser (Applied Biosystems). Fragment sizes were determined automatically using the Genescan® Anlysis Software v 3.7 and allele designations using Genetyper® Software v. 3.7 (Applied Biosystems). We present population data using this new kit, in order to apply it in our routine work.

Contact: Biologia@dpinml.mj.pt







P-234
Beware; gloves and equipment used during the examination of exhibits are potential vectors for transfer of DNA-containing material

Poy A, van Oorschot RAH

Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Victoria 3085, Australia

Gloves are worn during the examination of exhibits in forensic biology laboratories. They are worn to protect the wearer from harmful agents and to protect the exhibit from contamination by DNA-containing material derived from the surface of the hand of the examiner. Changing of gloves between handling of different exhibits is common practice. Gloved hands however are capable of picking-up DNA-containing material from exhibits being examined and transferring this to other areas of the exhibit and/or tools being utilised whilst examining. If these tools are not adequately cleaned after examination of a particular exhibit they may become a potential vector for future pick-up and transfer of DNA derived from an exhibit examined earlier to a subsequently examined exhibit. Items that come into direct contact with exhibits such as scissor blades and forcep tongues are routinely cleaned between exhibit examinations, however, their handles, containers, tissue boxes, pipettes, examination lamps etc, that are touched by gloved hands during examination, may not.
Swabbings or tape-lifts of numerous objects that may be used or touched during the examination of an exhibit revealed that only a few provided sufficient DNA from which profiles could be generated. None of those in the highest risk category (i.e. those that could pose a direct transfer risk) contained sufficient DNA from which a full DNA profile could be generated. We found that gloves can pick-up DNA-containing material while examining exhibits and when touching other surfaces known to be contaminated with DNA-containing material. We highlight a situation where a swabbing of the top of a flexible examination lamp attached to an examination bench revealed a strong Profiler Plus DNA profile from a single individual that matched the profile from samples taken from a jacket that was examined on the bench associated with the lamp three months prior to the swabbing of the lamp.
It is recommended that examiners of exhibits from which samples may be taken for DNA analysis regularly change their gloves whilst examining exhibits, avoid contact with areas of the exhibit that are likely to be sampled for DNA analysis and to regularly clean tools and objects that they may come into contact with while examining exhibits. This is especially so for cases involving trace quantities of DNA.

P-235
High-Resolution analysis of Y-SNPs in three populations from São Tomé and Príncipe

Prata MJ1,2, Tavares L1,2, Trovoada MJ 1,3, Gusmão L 1, Beleza S 1, Alves C 1, Amorim A 1,2

1Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto
2Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto


3Departamento de Antropologia da Universidade de Coimbra

São Tomé e Príncipe is a small archipelago situated in the Gulf of Guinea whose population history traces back to the end of the XV century when Portuguese navigators discovered the previously uninhabited islands. The first settlers were a few Europeans, mainly from Portugal, but the major contribution to the peopling of São Tomé e Príncipe was from African slaves brought, originally, from the mainland Western coast.
A very informative tool for recovering the origin and history of human populations is the analysis of patterns of genetic variation in contemporaneous populations. In previous studies we have used mtDNA and Y-STRs to characterise Angolares, Forros and Tongas, three population groups from São Tomé e Príncipe.
 In order to obtain a better understanding of the demographic history of the archipelago, here we have analysed 20 Y-chromosome biallelic polymorphisms (YAP, SRY8299, 92R7, SRY1532, SRY2627, Tat, sY81, M9, LLy22g, 12f2, M109, M112, M150, M168, M213, M170, M201, M81 M78 and M269) in samples from Angolares (N=56), Forros (N=39) and Tongas (N=44).
As expected, most male lineages belonged to sub-Saharan haplogroups. However, in the whole sample from the archipelago the component of European origin reached approximately 20% in the male pool of SNP-defined lineages, contrasting with the virtual absence previously reported for the mtDNA female counterpart. The lowest percentage of putative male European ancestry was registered among the Angolares, reflecting the long history of relative isolation of the group. Globally, the Y-SNP data now obtained, afforded a significant contribution to improve the knowledge about the admixture process between Europeans and Africans that took place in São Tomé e Príncipe.


P-236
Y-chromosome haplotypes and male isonymy:
genetic and genealogical study in a small town of Tuscany (Buti, Italy)
Silvano Presciuttini1, Chiara Toni2, Donato Epiro1, Isabella Spinetti2, Fabio Marroni1, Anna Rocchi2, Ranieri Domenici2
1Center of Statistical Genetics, University of Pisa, Italy
2Unit of Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
Introduction. In societies that use patrilineal family denominations, surnames and Y-chromosome haplotypes (YCH) follow a common pattern of inheritance. Therefore, isonymous individuals are expected to carry the same YCH, and observed inconsistencies can be ascribed to gene mutations, illegitimacies, surname polyphyletic origin, or transcription errors in the civic records. To investigate these issues in a well-defined population, we selected the village of Buti, near Pisa. This small town (about 5,000 inhabitants) maintains lively historical traditions; oral anecdotes report high level of reproductive isolation from the neighboring area. The mayor and the municipality council encouraged participation in the research.
Material and methods. A consent form has been approved by the IRB of the University of Pisa. Volunteers sign it when they donate blood or saliva for the present project at a local health facility. The entire civic records of the municipality have been acquired. In addition, the parochial archives of the main church of the village are almost intact, and were consulted for tracing specific surname genealogies back to the sixteenth century. YCHs of 12 STR markers were determined by the Y-system Promega ® commercial kit.
Results. To date, 69 males participated in the study; the sampling campaign is still open. The vast majority of the volunteers declared that all four grandparents were born in the village. Here, we report on the subjects whose surname occurred more than once in the sample, and who were unable to specify the degree of relationship with their isonymous fellow citizens. This subsample included 36 subjects distributed among 13 different surnames. Seven surnames (20 subjects) did not show variation of YCH among isonymous individuals, whereas 6 surnames (16 subjects) showed one or more locus difference, as follows:
·        surname Blue included 5 subjects; two of whom carried an allele of DYS391 differing of one repeat unit from the allele of the other three, whereas another subject carried an allele of DYS392 differing of one unit from the other four; their genealogy has been reconstructed back to a founder individual (the most recent common ancestor, MRCA) who moved into the village at the end of the 16th century, the total number of meioses separating the MRCA from these five present-day descendants was 37;
·        surname Pink included 3 subjects, two of whom were identical but a single step difference at locus DYS390, the other totaling 14 and 15 step differences with the first two at seven loci;
·        surnames White, Brown and Yellow included two subjects each, and showed a single step difference for the loci DYS390, DYS391, and DYS385, respectively;
·        surname Green included two subjects, differing for a total of 11 mutational steps in nine loci. Interestingly, one of these haplotypes was identical to a haplotype observed in Pink.
Conclusions. Among 13 different surnames including at least a pair of isonymous individuals (36 total subjects), we were able to identify six single-step mutations (two in DYS391, the others in DYS385, DYS390, DYS392 and DYS393) and two cases of historical illegitimacies. Our approach shall allow us to estimate mutation rates at STR loci with high accuracy.

P-237
An unusual case of disputed paternity: predicting the effect of typing multiple siblings

Silvano Presciuttini1, Chiara Toni2, Isabella Spinetti2, Anna Rocchi2, Ranieri Domenici2

1Center of Statistical Genetics, University of Pisa, Italy
2Unit of Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy

The following case of disputed paternity has come at our attention recently. The claimant pretended to be the natural daughter of a man long deceased, survived by six legitimate children. The judiciary question verged on the probabilities of paternity exclusion (in case of false parenthood) or attribution (in case of true parenthood), provided that all the six defendants contributed their DNA for genotyping.
In case of false parenthood, incompatibility can occur only when four different alleles are present among the legitimate siblings and none of these is present in claimant’s genotype. We calculated the probability of this occurrence both by an analytical method and by computer simulation. We assumed that 20 STRs were available for the analysis. The two methods produced overlapping results; in about 78% of the cases there was incompatibility in at lest one locus, in 41% there was incompatibility in at least two loci, and only in 14% of the cases there was incompatibility in at least three loci.
In case of true parenthood, we estimated the probability distribution of the paternity index (PI) by computer simulation. We obtained a probability of paternity higher than 0.999 in 99.7% of cases.
In conclusion, while in the hypothesis of false kinship only in a small percentage of cases is it possible to obtain at least three incompatibilities, in the opposite case of true fatherhood is it almost certain to reach a value for the probability of paternity > 99,9%.







P-238
Experiments on the DNA contamination risk via dactyloscopy brushes

Proff C, Schmitt C, Schneider PM, Rothschild MA

Institute of Legal Medicine, University Clinic Cologne, Germany

One of the crucial tasks of a crime scene investigation is the search for latent fingerprints. In addition to using chemicals, lasers, alternate light sources, and other physical means, one of the most common techniques for the detection and development of latent fingerprints is the use of carbon black powder.

As the analysis of small amounts of DNA has been improved especially in the last years using "low copy number" typing strategies, the police more frequently requests DNA testing of latent fingerprints that are not analyzable for dactyloscopy because of smearing or incompleteness. Often enough this is the last possibility to obtain crucial information leading to a suspect by database search or to match evidence to a suspect.
In contrast to other contact stains taken directly from the evidence, latent fingerprints have normally been treated with powder using dactyloscopy brushes made from glass fibers or bird feathers. According to SOCO´s from the Cologne Police Department these brushes are typically used for several weeks up to months on numerous different crime scenes. This led us to the assumption that DNA from powder-treated fingerprints may be contaminated by DNA from other crime scenes or other evidence from the same crime scene. The area for visualization of fingerprints is selected arbitrarily which means even huge surfaces (e.g. doors) are treated with powder, and even when no fingerprint was found, human cells (e.g. skin debris, saliva) may adhere to the brush.
In a first study 14 used fingerprint brushes were obtained from police investigators and subjected to DNA analysis using standard multiplex STR typing kits. We found human DNA traces on 12 of these, partially with high amounts of DNA. Typing results using standard STR multiplex analysis mostly showed DNA mixtures from two or more persons. In one case, however, a full DNA profile from a single person was detected with high signal intensities suggesting that it may have arisen from a blood or saliva stain.
However, these results are not suitable to demonstrate the transfer of DNA adhering to the brush to a fresh fingerprint. To address the question whether such a secondary transfer from dactyloscopy brushes to other surfaces and fingerprints can be observed, experiments with artificially contaminated and used fingerprint brushes were carried out.

Address for correspondence:
Dr. Carsten Proff, Institute of Legal Medicine, Melatenguertel 60-62, 50823 Cologne, Germany;
phone +49 221 47886623, fax +49 221 4783496, e-mail: carsten.proff@uk-koeln.de




P-239
Work in progress –
Applied Biosystems GeneMapperID®

Proff C

Institute of Legal Medicine, University Clinic Cologne, Germany

The GeneMapperID® software solution for forensic identity testing is finding its way into more and more laboratories worldwide. Replacing the time consuming GeneScan® and/or Genotyper® software one expected to purchase a modern easy-to-use software that performs high quality genotyping and provides a wide range of options in the field of forensic DNA testing.

After giving a short overview on the software options, our experiences after working with the GeneMapperID® for more than one year are going to be presented. These experiences comprise the advances in comparison with formerly used GeneScan® and/or Genotyper®, the software handling, observed software bugs and improvement suggestions.
Besides this, a critical appraisal on Applied Biosystems' policy concerning the ongoing restrictions through so-called ‘integrated solutions’ is made. The user is forced to spend a lot of time to adopt previously used protocols, matrices and run methods on their machines for use with the newer software versions and technical solutions, such as new Matrix Standards, Data collection or GeneMapperID® versions 3.1 and 3.2. In some cases, "integration" appears to offer predefined solutions which complicate or even prevent user-defined control of the sample processing. As many users are confronted with these developments a critical discussion is necessary.

Address for correspondence:
Dr. Carsten Proff, Institute of Legal Medicine, Melatenguertel 60-62, 50823 Cologne, Germany;
phone +49 221 47886623, fax +49 221 4783496, e-mail: carsten.proff@uk-koeln.de





P-240
Monte Carlo Bayesian Identification Using STR Profiles

Promish DI

The method described here bears out the premise that a complete CODIS 13 STR profile contains all the information needed to establish the probability of identity of two individuals having the same profile.  In order to do so, the method combines three concepts:  the concept of the culprit as a member of a group; the concept of the suspect as a one-person group; and the concept of groups, other than the suspect, which are distinguishable only by their homozygosity.  This presentation shows how to perform a Bayesian analysis of an STR profile with respect to the suspect group and a random sample of non-suspect groups.  It demonstrates the robustness of the method with respect to a varied selection of real profiles and with respect to evidence other than the profiles. 
The Monte Carlo Bayesian (MCB) method described here has several features worth noting. 
(a) The method is case-specific.  Both evaluation of and adjustment for substructure are automatic, and they are unique to the STR profile at issue. 
(b) The method accommodates variation in prior probabilities according to the investigator's judgment regarding non-profile data. 
(c) The method produces probabilities not likelihood ratios. 
(d) The method does not rely on reference group allele frequency data.  The investigator can use the method when she/he lacks either knowledge of, or immediate access to, suitable frequency data. 
In addition to the features mentioned above, the case analysis results shown in this presentation lead, through a series of subordinate conclusions,   to one major one. 
Here are the subordinate conclusions. 
(a)  The results of a Monte Carlo Bayesian (MCB) analysis appear to be consistent with what an experienced investigator might infer by inspection. 
(b)  Because MCB relies only on within-locus allele differences, it can analyse encrypted (real) profiles.  It thus has potential for use where personal privacy is of concern. 
(c)  Consequently, MCB can also analyse synthetic profiles, such as the extreme case of an individual who is homozygous at all of the CODIS 13 loci.  The results of such a case lead to the following major conclusion. 
It seems safe to say that any "cold hit",  regardless of substructure,  is at least a very good investigative lead;  and that a profile match coupled with a "minimum probable cause" prior amounts to an investigative,  if not a juridical,  certainty. 

Because the initial work on this subject tacitly assumed that crime scenes yield complete CODIS 13 profiles, this presentation will explore the sensitivity of MCB to reduction of the profile, particularly by elimination of the more informative loci. 




P-241
Efficiency comparison of seven different Taq polymerases used in hemogenetics.

Purzycka JK 1, Olewiecki I 1, Soltyszewski I 1, Pepinski W 2, Janica J 2

1 Central Forensic Laboratory of Police, Warsaw, Poland1
2 Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland

Currently, STR typing is the most efficient and the fastest way for identification of biological material samples from humans. Automated analysis of dye-marked PCR products processed during capillary electrophoresis provides with accurate and precise results. However, efficacy of DNA analysis largely depends on DNA degradation which is related with sample aging and storage conditions. Objective of the study was to compare the enzymatic efficiency of polymerases used for analysis of degraded low concentration DNA templates. Nine different polymerase brands have been used: AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase (Applera), OptiTaq DNA (EURx), Taq DNA Polymerase (EURx), Perpetual Taq DNA Polymerase (EURx), DNA Polymerase (Biotools), DNA Polymerase - Gel form (Biotools), Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen), Taq DNA Polymerase, Recombinant (Invitrogen), JumpStart Taq DNA Polymerase (Sigma). DNA was extracted by organic method from dried blood samples collected from 30 non-related individuals in 1955 at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok. The samples were stored in paper envelopes at room temperature and constant humidity. Recovered DNA was quantitiated fluorometrically using PicoGreen dsDNA Quantitation Reagent (Molecular Probes) and Fluoroscan Ascent FL (Labsystems). DNA quality was assessed by 2% ethidium bromide agarose gel electrophoresis. Different amounts of DNA from 0.25 to 1.25 ng were used as a PCR template. AmpFlSTR SGM Plus kit and ABI 3100 Sequencer (Applera) were used to obtain genetic profiles. Significant differences in polymerase efficiency in relation to DNA template degradation were observed.


P-242
Cytochrome b. An alternative to cytochrome oxidase as a species-specific marker in Forensics

Ramos de Pablo R1,2, Saloña M2, Sarasola E1,2, Sergio Cardoso S1,2 and Martínez de Pancorbo M1,2

1Servicio de Genómica: Banco de ADN. Universidad del País Vasco. Vitoria-Gasteiz. Spain
2Dpto. de Zoología y Biología Celular Animal. Universidad del País Vasco. Leioa (Bizkaia). Spain

Several DNA sequences such as those belonging to the mitochondrial genome (e.g. cytochrome b) comprise species-specific information which has shown to be a quick and reliable choice in forensic as well as in phylogenetic investigations (Parson et al. Int J Legal Med. 2000; 114: 23-28). Methodologies based on these type of sequences, allow the identification of carrion flies specimens which is a fundamental first task in forensic entomological studies. Unfortunately, species are frequently rather difficult to establish, since (a) adults may have not been collected during a forensic prospect and (b) eggs and larvae are fairly hard to distinguish morphologically at specific level until they have not been developed to adults.
The purpose of this work has been to develop a proper methodology based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to allow the identification of entomological species pertaining to forensic casework.
To achieve this goal, seventeen third-instar larvae previously identified as Steribia nigriceps by morphological means, were utilized. DNA was extracted as follows: cell lysis was performed using proteinase K and SDS. Next, DNA was purified using the phenol/chloroform method. A 358 bp fragment of the cytochrome b was amplified via PCR under adjusted conditions after Parson et al. (2000). All the samples were sequenced in an automatic ABI Prism 310 DNA sequencer. PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide and visualised under UV-illumination.
A consensus sequence of 305 bp was obtained from the aforementioned procedure. Then, this sequence was submitted to a BLAST search at NCBI (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST). This process permitted to locate the nearest species, and so work on phylogenetic studies. It is important to highlight that there is a sequence of 86 bp which is equal in all the studied specimens genome. This unique characteristic could be utilized as a species-specific marker for this species, as it only possesses dissimilarities at the interspecific level. These results indicate that the characterization of insects via the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene is fairly trustworthy.


P-243
Common Y-chromosomal STR database for three closely related European populations
Rębała K1, Mikulich AI2, Tsybovsky IS3, Siváková D4, Szczerkowska Z1
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland
2Institute for the Study of Arts, Ethnography and Folklore, National Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus
3Institute of Problems of Criminology, Criminalistics and Forensic Expertise, Minsk, Belarus
4Department of Anthropology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
A unique inheritance pattern and specificity to males has made the human Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers an excellent tool in male kinship analysis, genealogical studies and discrimination of male DNA in male/female stain mixtures. However, extensive analysis of Y-STR polymorphism throughout Europe has shown significant differences in allele and haplotype distribution even between closely related human populations. Therefore, establishment of a common Y-STR haplotype frequency database for different European populations appeared to be impossible. Since homogeneity of paternal lineages determined by analysis of minimal haplotypes has been shown between 6 regional populations in Poland, the aim of this study was to compare usefulness of 18 Y-chromosomal microsatellites in forensic practice in the Polish population and two other closely related Slavic populations of Belarus and Slovakia, and to check for the possibility of the creation of a common Y-STR haplotype frequency database for forensic purposes.Y-chromosomal microsatellites were genotyped in 568 randomly selected, unrelated males: 196 Belarusians, 208 Poles, and 164 Slovaks, by means of a multiplex (octadecaplex) PCR reaction and capillary electrophoresis using an ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer. The loci analysed included DYS19, DYS388, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS426, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS460, GATA H4.1, DYS385 a/b, and YCAII a/b. Allele designation was based on comparison with the constructed allelic ladder. In order to check for a marker’s potential for resolution of similar haplotypes, contribution of each system to the discrimination capacity was calculated. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was performed using Arlequin 2.000 software. Markers responsible for the differences between populations were identified using a chi-square test for homogeneity and locus-by-locus AMOVA. The overall haplotype diversity value ranged from 0.9982 in the Polish population to 0.9992 among Belarusians and Slovaks, while discrimination capacity was 93.4%, 92.3%, and 94.5% for Belarusians, Poles and Slovaks, respectively. The most polymorphic system was DYS389 in the Belarusian population, whereas among Poles and Slovaks, the highest gene diversity was found in DYS385. The most valuable marker in discrimination of similar haplotypes was DYS389 while DYS426 and DYS438 did not affect the discrimination power of the multiplex in all three populations. AMOVA revealed significant differences between the populations and excluded possibility of one common Y-STR database. Analysis of haplotypes defined only by markers showing homogeneity within the three populations (DYS388, DYS389I, DYS389II-I, DYS393, DYS426, DYS460, YCAII a/b) showed that the whole genetic variation was attributable to the variation within populations and enabled establishment of a common database with haplotype diversity equal to 0.9632. For databases combined for pairs of populations, the number of available loci increased (up to 13 loci in case of a Belarusian-Slovak database) and the power of discrimination was higher. The studied Y-STR loci define very informative haplotypes for population-genetic and forensic investigations. A constantly growing number of Y-chromosomal microsatellites available for research enable selection of markers for haplotype databases common for closely related populations, so that discrimination power of such haplotypes may reach a level acceptable in forensic casework.
Prof. Zofia Szczerkowska, PhD   Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk
ul. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3A, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland                   e-mail: szczerko@amg.gda.pl

P-244
SampleCheck, an information management system for quality assurance of DNA-profile analysis in parentage testing

Reitz P, Jung M

bj-diagnostik GmbH, Kerkrader Str. 11, 35394 Giessen, Germany


To increase the validity of laboratory results SampleCheck performs plausibility checks on DNA profiles for every batch processed. This platform independent programme interacts with a database storing DNA profiles and further information. The main function of SampleCheck is tp perform plausibility checks on DNA profiles of a batch to detect pipetting errors, contaminations with other DNA and if samples during collection or pipetting may have been interchanged. Checks can be performed batchwise and/or against the whole database. Samples of each family in a batch can also be checked for exclusions and exchanges. Every sample is monitored for correct gender by comparing expected and measured gender. At the same time an alignment of the measured profiles and the profiles of coworkers and positive controls takes place. Additionally a single sample or the samples of a whole batch can be checked for identical profiles and profiles sharing a common allele on each marker like in father-child and mother-child relations. Allele frequency tables for diferent populations, mutation rates, coworkers and positive control profiles can be stored. SampleCheck enables the user to import this information from different file formats to the database. LR-values can be calculated using three different methods.









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