ForWArd

Research project at a glance

The enormous sensitivity of modern DNA analytical techniques entails a high risk of picking up DNA traces from individuals not involved in the crime case investigated. Resulting mixed DNA profiles are difficult to be assigned to perpetrators. In rape cases, sperms of several rapists, or a high proportion of victim DNA may lead to mixed traces as well. To avoid such problems and at the same time to further increase the analytical sensitivity, we propose to analyze traces that eo ipso represent individual genomes. These comprise single sperm cells, single skin flakes, and single telogen hairs. DNA extraction protocols will be optimized for these trace types, and their minute amounts of DNA will be preamplified using whole genome amplification (WGA) techniques. The WGA products will be subjected to conventional forensic DNA analysis thereafter. By this means, hitherto problematic trace types will be made amenable to forensic DNA analysis. Publikations Theunissen, G.M.G., Gibb, A., Kong Thoo Lin.P., Rolf, B., Forat., S. & Jäger, R. (2021) DNA profiling of single sperm cells after whole genome amplification. Forensic Sci Int: Reports 4: 100240. Heß, S.A., Trapani, S., Boronat, M.d.M., Theunissen, G.M.G., Rolf, B. & Jäger, R. (2021) Ribosomal DNA as target for the assessment of DNA degradation of human and canine DNA. Legal Med. 48: 101819. Heß, S.A., Biermann, J.-P., Grabmüller, M., Madea, B., Thiele, R. & Jäger, R. (2019) Evaluation of STR profiles of single telogen hairs using probabilistic methods. Forensic Sci Int: Genetics Suppl. 7: e454-e456. Theunissen, G.M.G., Rolf, B., Gibb, A. & Jäger, R. (2017) DNA profiling of sperm cells by using micromanipulation and whole genome amplification. Forensic Sci Int: Genetics Suppl. 6: e497-e499.

Keywords

Sicherheitsforschung Forensische Biologie DNA-Analyse Forensic Sciences

Departments and Instituts

Department of Natural Sciences Institute for Safety and Security Research (ISF)

Funding type

Publicly funded research

Period

01.12.2014 to 30.11.2017

Project manager at H-BRS

Project Description

The enormous sensitivity of modern DNA analytical techniques entails a high risk of picking up DNA traces from individuals not involved in the crime case investigated. Resulting mixed DNA profiles are difficult to be assigned to perpetrators. In rape cases, sperms of several rapists, or a high proportion of victim DNA may lead to mixed traces as well.

To avoid such problems and at the same time to further increase the analytical sensitivity, we propose to analyze traces that eo ipso represent individual genomes. These comprise single sperm cells, single skin flakes, and single telogen hairs. DNA extraction protocols will be optimized for these trace types, and their minute amounts of DNA will be preamplified using whole genome amplification (WGA) techniques. The WGA products will be subjected to conventional forensic DNA analysis thereafter. By this means, hitherto problematic trace types will be made amenable to forensic DNA analysis.

Publikations

Theunissen, G.M.G., Gibb, A., Kong Thoo Lin.P., Rolf, B., Forat., S. & Jäger, R. (2021) DNA profiling of single sperm cells after whole genome amplification. Forensic Sci Int: Reports 4: 100240.

Heß, S.A., Trapani, S., Boronat, M.d.M., Theunissen, G.M.G., Rolf, B. & Jäger, R. (2021) Ribosomal DNA as target for the assessment of DNA degradation of human and canine DNA. Legal Med. 48: 101819.

Heß, S.A., Biermann, J.-P., Grabmüller, M., Madea, B., Thiele, R. & Jäger, R. (2019) Evaluation of STR profiles of single telogen hairs using probabilistic methods. Forensic Sci Int: Genetics Suppl. 7: e454-e456.

Theunissen, G.M.G., Rolf, B., Gibb, A. & Jäger, R. (2017) DNA profiling of sperm cells by using micromanipulation and whole genome amplification. Forensic Sci Int: Genetics Suppl. 6: e497-e499.