Forensic DNA Typing From Femurs and Bones of the Foot: A Study of 3 Cases.

Evidence has been accumulating in the sense that femur may not always be the best option for DNA typing of skeletal remains. Recent studies have shown that bones of the hands and feet appear to be a superior source of preserved DNA. The current study reanalyzed DNA quantitation, degradation, and short tandem repeat typing in femurs, lateral cuneiforms, and distal foot phalanges.

Human identification through DNA analysis of restored postmortem teeth.

The identification of human remains using DNA analysis can be extremely challenging and its success is certainly influenced by the time elapsed since death. In that context, intact teeth have been shown to be highly successful in DNA analysis. However, restored teeth are usually available and, surprisingly, these specimens have been poorly studied.

DNA quantitation and degradation assessment: a quantitative PCR protocol designed for small forensic genetics laboratories.

For over 10 years, quantitative PCR (qPCR) for DNA quantitation has been reported in forensics. However, assays have not been described for small qPCR platforms. Thus, technological advancement is not always implemented in small forensic genetics laboratories.

Male lineages in Brazilian populations and performance of haplogroup prediction tools.

The use of Y-chromosomal genetic markers in forensic investigations demands the establishment of reliable and representative DNA databases of different reference populations. The genetic characterization of the Y chromosome variation in human populations requires the analyses of haplotype frequencies allied to haplogroup determination. The present study aimed to contribute to the Brazilian database by providing 1,382 Yfiler Plus individual profiles, from 11 Brazilian states.

Living with the dead: A case report and review of the literature.

The discovery of human corpses in urban domestic settings does not constitute an unusual case in criminal casework. These scenarios can be very challenging to investigate since the uninformative evidences encountered also demand a multidisciplinary effort among several specialties in the forensic sciences field. The occurrence of this incident is usually accompanied by social isolation, which is an emblematic aspect of urban modern society.

Forensic DNA typing from teeth using demineralized root tips.

Teeth are widely used samples in forensic human genetic identification due to their persistence and practical sampling and processing. Their processing, however, has changed very little in the last 20 years, usually including powdering or pulverization of the tooth. The objective of this study was to present demineralized root tips as DNA sources while, at the same time, not involving powdering the samples or expensive equipment for teeth processing.