USE OF NESTED PCR TO IDENTIFY CHARRED HUMAN REMAINS AND MINUTE AMOUNTS OF BLOOD

Reliable single cell PCR requires nested or hemi-nested PCR and carefu l optimization of conditions. This report describes the successful use of nested PCR for gender identification and reverse paternity testing in a forensic case where the only available materials consisted of ch arred human remains and a minute quantity of blood that were unsuitabl e for standard PCR. Use of nested PCR allowed the blood and burned tis sue to be identified as human female. Analysis of two PCR length polym orphisms (AMPFLP) was successful on the blood sample and reverse pater nity testing yielded a 98% probability that the blood spot was from th e victim. The defendant was convicted of murder following a bench tria l and the verdict was upheld by the Appellate court.