APPLICATION OF POLYMORPHIC DNA-SEQUENCES TO DIFFERENTIATE THE ORIGIN OF DECOMPOSED BOVINE MEAT

Two bovine meat samples were analysed although the samples were alread y in a state of advanced decomposition. The isolated DNA was extremely degraded and not suitable for conventional DNA fingerprinting (profil ing), thus the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to screen f or a Y-chromosome specific fragment and the loci of the two milk prote ins kappa-casein and beta-lactoglobulin. Both samples contained Y-chro mosome specific DNA and the kappa-casein genotype AA but they differed at the beta-lactoglobulin locus (BB versus AB). Thus a different orig in (carcass) could be verified for the two samples and a subject was e xonerated from a case of meat larceny.