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Paternity testing after pregnancy termination using laser microdissection of chorionic villi
Martin Bauer1, Andreas Thalheimer, Dieter Patzelt
1Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Würzburg, Germany. reme005@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
International Journal of Legal Medicine
|April 2, 2002
Summary
Paternity testing is possible using fetal cells from chorionic villi remaining after pregnancy termination. Advanced techniques like laser-assisted microdissection and STR typing enable accurate DNA analysis for establishing paternity.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Genetics
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Paternity testing typically relies on DNA analysis from readily available biological samples.
- Establishing paternity after pregnancy termination can be challenging due to sample degradation or limited availability.
Observation:
- Intact chorionic villi, containing fetal cells, were discovered during autopsy 5 weeks post-termination in a homicide victim.
- Fetal cells were successfully isolated from these villi using laser-induced microdissection to prevent maternal DNA contamination.
Findings:
- Multiplex short tandem repeat (STR) typing of isolated fetal DNA yielded a high combined probability of paternity (99.94%).
- This demonstrates the efficacy of advanced molecular techniques in forensic casework.
Implications:
- Laser-assisted microdissection and STR typing offer viable methods for post-mortem paternity testing from residual fetal tissues.
- This technique expands the possibilities for genetic identification in challenging forensic scenarios, even long after pregnancy termination.