Application of DNA techniques for identification using human dental pulp as a source of DNA

Abstract

Dental pulp tissue could be obtained in most cases from materials obtained under experimental conditions and from forensic casework (air accidents, burned and putrefied bodies). Teeth extracted during dental treatment (n = 30) were stored for 6 weeks and 4 years at room temperature. In addition teeth (n = 10) extracted from jaw fragments that had been stored for 15 years at room temperature, and teeth extracted post mortem from actual identification cases (n = 8) were investigated. Following extraction from dental pulp tissue the DNA concentration was measured by fluorometry. The amount of DNA obtained from the dental pulp tissue of a single tooth varied from 6 micrograms to 50 micrograms DNA. In most cases high molecular weight DNA was still present although the major portion consisted of degraded DNA. Genomic dot blot hybridization for sex determination using the biotinylated repetitive DNA probe pHY 2.1 was performed and sex was correctly classified in all cases using 50-100 ng target DNA. PCR typing of the HLA-DQ alpha and ApoB 3' VNTR systems from dental pulp tissue DNA was in agreement with the results obtained from blood, bloodstains, or lung tissue. In addition, Southern blot analysis of selected samples using the single locus VNTR probe pYNH24 was successfully performed. In all cases the DNA recovered from dental pulp was unsuitable for multilocus probe analysis.

Human gender classification: a review

“…With the non-appearance approach, features are extracted from biological information and social network-based information. Biological information comes from biometrics, e.g., voice [41], iris [16], fingerprint [42], emotional speech [43], and bio-signals, e.g., EEG [44,45], ECG [27] and DNA [46] information. The Bio-signal refers to human biometric information, which is used for gender classification.…”

“…It is well known that DNA conveys a considerable amount of personal information. Pötsch et al [46] investigated the use of human dental pulp as a source of DNA for determining gender in the 1990s. The gender was correctly classified for all cases in the study.…”

Use of DNA Technology in Forensic Dentistry

“…Thus, this analysis is not usual in all forensic laboratories directed at resolution of crimes and identification of persons [22]. In a study conducted by Pötsch et al [4], the total production of genomic DNA obtained from a dental sample ranged from 6 μg to 50 μg DNA. The results were obtained from DNA extracted from the dental pulp and did not show any difference when compared to the patterns obtained from DNA isolated from blood samples or available lung tissues.…”

“…Three decades later, Jeffreys et al [3], created radioactive molecular probes that could recognize highly variable regions of DNA and thus determine the specific patterns of each individual, which were named DNA fingerprints. The currently performed DNA profile tests are totally reliable, being accepted as legal proofs in courts, such as for investigation of paternity and human identification [4].…”

Short Tandem Repeat Typing Using Endogenous DNA Isolated from Human Fingernail

“…One force characteristic of DNA profiling is that it may be used in assortment of various biological sources. Some of these sources include blood [1,2], semen [3], hair [4][5][6], saliva [7],bone [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and teeth [15][16][17]. DNA profiling of individuals with short tandem repeat (STR) markers is commonly used in forensic genetics and paternity testing.…”