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Forensic evaluation of HUMCD4: an Italian database
L Casarino1, A Mannucci, C P Kimpton
1Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università di Genova, Italy.
International Journal of Legal Medicine
|January 1, 1996
Summary
The HUMCD4 pentanucleotide short tandem repeat polymorphism is a valuable tool for DNA identification. This genetic marker is effective for forensic applications, paternity testing, and population genetics in diverse sample types.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Forensic Science
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms are crucial for human identification.
- The YTTTC pentanucleotide STR locus HUMCD4 has potential applications in various genetic analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the HUMCD4 STR polymorphism in an Italian population.
- To assess the utility of HUMCD4 for forensic and clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of the HUMCD4 locus.
- Analysis of PCR products using manual Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and silver staining.
- Comparison with an allelic ladder for accurate sizing.
Main Results:
- Six alleles ranging from 5 to 12 repeats were identified in the Italian sample.
- Three predominant alleles (10, 6, and 5 repeats) showed a combined frequency of 0.91.
- Successful amplification was achieved from various challenging DNA sources, including degraded samples, blood, urine, teeth, and paraffin-embedded tissues.
Conclusions:
- The HUMCD4 polymorphism is a robust marker for individual identification, paternity testing, and population studies.
- Its effectiveness with degraded DNA and diverse sample types makes it suitable for forensic casework.
- The locus can also be utilized for monitoring bone marrow transplant engraftment.