Extraction Strategy for DNA Recovery from Putrefied Teeth and Skull Bone

Abstract

Forensic samples are commonly exposed to harsh environmental conditions which affect the degree of sample (DNA) preservation and subsequent genetic profiling. The aim of this study was to develop a better strategy for DNA extraction from hard putrefied tissues (Teeth and Skull bone). Jaw (teeth) and the skull samples were collected from the putrefied corpses and the authors were asked to determine if the two specimens belonged to the same body. The DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform and DNA IQ™ System Kit. The PowerPlex® 16 and the PowerPlex® Y System Kits were used for autosomal STR and Y-STR genotyping, respectively. DNA profiling found evidence in favor of DNA degradation. Phenol-Chloroform extracted-DNA was re-extracted by using DNA IQ ™ System kit and managed to identify 13 autosomal STR loci and 13 Y-STR markers from doubly extracted DNA. In conclusion, the combination of two DNA extraction methods (phenol-chloroform + DNA IQ™) improved the quality of DNA extracted from putrefied teeth and skull bone.

Keywords

• forensic science
• forensic identification
• dna extraction
• putrefaction
• teeth
• skull bone