Keywords

Forensic Science, Y-STR, Multiplex, Post-Coital, Y Chromosome

Abstract

It is routine for the forensic scientist to obtain a genetic profile of an individual from DNA recovered from a biological stain deposited at a crime scene. In contrast, only a limited number of laboratories in the United States have the capability of performing Y-STR analysis in casework. In order to aid in facilitating the transfer of Y-STR technology to the crime laboratory community for operational use, a comparison between commercial products from three main vendors (Applied Biosystems AmpFLSTR Yfiler PCR Amplification Kit, Promega PowerPlex - Y System, Reliagene Y-PLEX 12) and two in-house Y-STR multiplexes (MPI and MPB) commenced. The main intention for this comparison was to ascertain whether commercial Y-STR kits are able to obtain a male profile from difficult samples which have been accomplished with our in-house Y-STR multiplexes; such as mixtures, post coital specimens, and environmental insults. To aid the crime laboratory community an in depth comparison of the three main commercial Y-STR kits began in hopes to glean information in circumstances where Y chromosome polymorphisms may need to be employed. For example, the ability to provide investigators with the numbers of semen donors in multiple rape cases, identification of the genetic profile of the male component in a male/female mixture, and identification of the genetic profile of the male component in an extended interval post-coital sample. The capability of typing Y-STR loci by the crime laboratory community could dramatically affect the admissibility of Y-STR evidence. Therefore, the comparison of commercially available kits is an imperative process by which the scientific community acquires the necessary information to assess the ability of a procedure to obtain reliable results, determine the conditions under which such results can be obtained and define the limitations of the procedure. Thus the information for the study could lend itself to a standard being established amongst Y-STR kits for operational use and/or the production of a new Y-STR kit. One example of how the comparison of the three main commercial Y-STR kits could directly impact a new standard being established is by examining post-coital samples and their extreme limits (>48 hrs) for each kit in which a full male genetic profile was observed and comparing it to other commercial Y-STR kit and in-house Y-STR multiplexes. This would help establish the types of cases where specific Y-STR kits would be most useful, and the parameters in which each kit is able to perform. Thus leading to the development of a highly sensitive Y-STR kit that would be more sufficient to perform with the variety of samples an operational crime laboratory would routinely analyze. The capability of typing Y-STR loci by the crime laboratory community could dramatically affect the admissibility of Y-STR evidence. Therefore, the comparison of commercially available kits is an imperative process in order to inform the forensic community of different Y-STR kits available and their performance through direct comparison using modified SWGDAM validation guidelines.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2006

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Ballantyne, Jack

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Degree Program

Industrial Chemistry

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0001026

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0001026

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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Chemistry Commons

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