EXTRACTION OF SINGLE-COPY NUCLEAR-DNA FROM FORENSIC SPECIMENS WITH A VARIETY OF POSTMORTEM HISTORIES

Specimens of human bone, teeth and dried blood spots from 3 months to 91 years old, with a variety of postmortem histories, were used in a c omparative study of recovery of single-copy nuclear DNA sequences from forensic material. Sequences of the amelogenin and HLA-DPB1 genes wer e chosen for their value in sexing and identification. Sequences of th e mitochondrial non-coding region V were also amplified to compare the recovery of mitochondrial and single-copy nuclear DNA. A variation of the silica method for DNA extraction was refined for application to t he forensic specimens in this sample. Single-copy nuclear DNA was ampl ified from 100% of recent postoperative bone specimens (n = 6), 80% of forensic teeth and bone specimens (n = 10), 78% of recently extracted teeth (n = 18), 78% of exhumed bone up to 91 years old (n = 37) and 6 9% of 15 year old bone specimens fixed in 10% formalin (n = 20). Amelo genin sexing was correct in 85% of cases (n = 74) in which the sex of the donor had been recorded. There was no correlation between the age of the specimen and the extent of DNA preservation.