CONSERVED GENE-SEQUENCES FOR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - PCR ANALYSIS OFTHE 3'-UTR OF THE SON GENE DISTINGUISHES HUMAN AND OTHER MAMMALIAN DNAS

In this paper we show that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used on regions of highly conserved genes, such as the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the SON gene, to identify the mammalian origin of a sample. Using this test, we have been able to distinguish human, mon key, cat, dog, mouse and hamster DNAs. We have also determined the DNA sequence of these different PCR products, which can be used to reinfo rce species identification. The advantages of this test are that: (i) no prior information is required on the possible species origin of a s ample, (ii) the reaction produces a single PCR product which varies in size according to the species of origin, making the test simple to in terpret, and (iii) the target region of DNA amplified in these experim ents is small and can easily be sequenced and sized using automated te chniques. This small size has enabled us to successfully amplify this product from DNA extracted from compromised material (human bone sampl es) and so demonstrate that the test is valuable for the characterisat ion of remains in which DNA is degraded.