The auditory ossicles as a DNA source for genetic identification of highly putrefied cadavers

International Journal of Legal Medicine
Thorsten SchwarkNicole von Wurmb-Schwark

Abstract

Genetic identification of putrefied bodies is a common task in forensic medicine. With advancing putrefaction, however, DNA integrity is rapidly decreasing and genetic typing of tissue might be impaired or impossible. Since DNA stability is generally higher in hard tissues, bones or teeth are frequently used as DNA source in such cases. However, isolation of DNA from hard tissues is usually very time-consuming and labor-intensive. This can be especially important in (forensic) cases where time is short and identification has to be carried out as fast as possible. Here, we present the identification of dead bodies by analyzing DNA from the auditory ossicles. These minuscule bones provided DNA of sufficient quality and quantity for identification purposes in all 40 investigated cases. Additionally, processing of the bones proved to be amazingly easy and fast, and a successful extraction is possible using a variety of different methods. We present a detailed protocol, results, and cases in which this new method has been successfully applied.

References

Jan 1, 1992·Acta Anatomica·R SarratJ Whyte
Feb 19, 2003·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Michael Bohnert, Markus A Rothschild
Nov 19, 2005·Science·Leslie G BieseckerAnne Walsh
May 12, 2010·Forensic Science International. Genetics·Micaela PoetschNicole von Wurmb-Schwark
Dec 21, 2010·International Journal of Legal Medicine·Thorsten SchwarkNicole von Wurmb-Schwark
Jul 1, 2011·International Journal of Legal Medicine·Joanna JakubowskaRyszard Pawłowski
Aug 21, 2013·Forensic Science International. Genetics·Mariela CaputoDaniel Corach
Mar 25, 2014·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Rhonan Ferreira SilvaDécio Ernesto de Azevedo Marinho
Jul 6, 2014·Forensic Science International. Genetics·Pamela L MarshallBruce Budowle

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Citations

Feb 27, 2020·Genome Research·Kendra SirakRon Pinhasi

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