Identification and isolation of male cells using fluorescence in situ hybridisation and laser microdissection, for use in the investigation of sexual assault

Murray, CS; McAlister, Colin; Elliott, Keith

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2007.05.003

Cited by 41 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Most forensic laboratories concentrate only on swabs from the female genital tract in order to obtain an autosomal profile of the sperm donor. Sophisticated methods such as cytological detection in combination with lasermicrodissection of sperm cells [21] as well as differential lysis [22] in combination with Sperm Elution [23] have been proposed for the separation of evidentiary male samples from female background. However, many sexual offence cases lack detectable spermatozoa for reasons including azoospermic or vasectomized perpetrators, no ejaculation, extended time intervals between the incident and sampling [24], and false allegation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a combined autosomal/Y-chromosomal STR approach for analyzing typical biological stains in sexual-assault cases

Purps

Geppert

Nagy

et al. 2015

Forensic Science International: Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

DNA testing is an established part of the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault. The primary purpose of DNA evidence is to identify a suspect and/or to demonstrate sexual contact. However, due to highly uneven proportions of female and male DNA in typical stains, routine autosomal analysis often fails to detect the DNA of the assailant. To evaluate the forensic efficiency of the combined application of autosomal and Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) markers, we present a large retrospective casework study of probative evidence collected in sexual-assault cases. We investigated up to 39 STR markers by testing combinations of the 16-locus NGMSElect kit with both the 23-locus PowerPlex Y23 and the 17-locus Yfiler kit. Using this dual approach we analyzed DNA extracts from 2077 biological stains collected in 287 cases over 30 months. To assess the outcome of the combined approach in comparison to stand-alone autosomal analysis we evaluated informative DNA profiles. Our investigation revealed that Y-STR analysis added up to 21% additional, highly informative (complete, single-source) profiles to the set of reportable autosomal STR profiles for typical stains collected in sexual-assault cases. Detection of multiple male contributors was approximately three times more likely with Y-chromosomal profiling than with autosomal STR profiling. In summary, 1/10 cases would have remained inconclusive (and could have been dismissed) if Y-STR analysis had been omitted from DNA profiling in sexual-assault cases.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a combined autosomal/Y-chromosomal STR approach for analyzing typical biological stains in sexual-assault cases

Purps

Geppert

Nagy

et al. 2015

Forensic Science International: Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In cases where no sperm cells are detected, alternative sources of DNA must be identified. The Forensic Science Service has developed a method to isolate male cells from vaginal swabs in azoospermic sexual assault cases (1,2). Further, skin surface swabs from sites such as the face and nipple can provide saliva samples from the assailant.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

New cell separation technique for the isolation and analysis of cells from biological mixtures in forensic caseworks

Wang

et al. 2011

Croat Med J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

AimTo isolate mucosal cells of the perpetrator in a sexual assault case from a complex mixture of his mucosal cells and the victim’s skin by micromanipulation prior to genomic analysis.MethodsTo capture and analyze mucosal cells we used the micromanipulation with on-chip low volume polymerase chain reaction (LV-PCR). Consensus DNA profiles were generated from 5 replicate experiments.Results and conclusionsWe validated the use of micromanipulation with on-chip LV-PCR for genomic analysis of complex biological mixtures in a fatal rape case. The perpetrator’s mucosal cells were captured from nipple swabs of the victim, and a single-source DNA profile was generated from cell mixtures. These data suggest that micromanipulation with on-chip LV-PCR is an effective forensic tool for the analysis of specific cells from complex samples.

show abstract

“…In rape cases, mixed male-female samples are the most common. These samples require more advanced analysis when complicated by the presence of multiple male contributors in the case of multiple perpetrators (group rape) and increasingly prevent crime garnering legal attention worldwide (14). In several cases, such as rape, significantly larger amounts of victim DNA are present.…”

Section: Laboratory Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Current developments in forensic interpretation of mixed DNA samples (Review)

Cong

et al. 2014

Biomedical Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A number of recent improvements have provided contemporary forensic investigations with a variety of tools to improve the analysis of mixed DNA samples in criminal investigations, producing notable improvements in the analysis of complex trace samples in cases of sexual assult and homicide. Mixed DNA contains DNA from two or more contributors, compounding DNA analysis by combining DNA from one or more major contributors with small amounts of DNA from potentially numerous minor contributors. These samples are characterized by a high probability of drop-out or drop-in combined with elevated stutter, significantly increasing analysis complexity. At some loci, minor contributor alleles may be completely obscured due to amplification bias or over-amplification, creating the illusion of additional contributors. Thus, estimating the number of contributors and separating contributor genotypes at a given locus is significantly more difficult in mixed DNA samples, requiring the application of specialized protocols that have only recently been widely commercialized and standardized. Over the last decade, the accuracy and repeatability of mixed DNA analyses available to conventional forensic laboratories has greatly advanced in terms of laboratory technology, mathematical models and biostatistical software, generating more accurate, rapid and readily available data for legal proceedings and criminal cases.

show abstract

Identification and isolation of male cells using fluorescence in situ hybridisation and laser microdissection, for use in the investigation of sexual assault

Cited by 41 publications

References 21 publications

Validation of a combined autosomal/Y-chromosomal STR approach for analyzing typical biological stains in sexual-assault cases

Validation of a combined autosomal/Y-chromosomal STR approach for analyzing typical biological stains in sexual-assault cases

New cell separation technique for the isolation and analysis of cells from biological mixtures in forensic caseworks

Current developments in forensic interpretation of mixed DNA samples (Review)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About