Problems of Forensic Sciences 1998 Vol. 37 (XXXVII) 122-139
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL: THE CURRENT SITUATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS
Wojciech BRANICKI
Institute of Forensic Research, Cracow
Streszczenie
One of the stages of dealing with the biological material submitted to medical-forensic laboratories is species identification. To this end, in order to determine whether the material under examination is of human or animal origin, an analysis of DNA sequences characteristic of the human genome is carried out. In practice, this procedure consists in amplifying systems of the STR (Short Tandem Repeats) type, which are then analysed for the purpose of individual identification. The starters used have sequences which make amplification of human DNA possible. Identification of the particular species from which the submitted material comes is commonly carried out using immunological methods. Attempts have been made to use analysis of genetic material to this end. An advantage of DNA-based identification is the possibility of analysing minimal amounts of even strongly degraded material. For this reason RAPD methods or an analysis of variable regions in conservative genes stand a chance of becoming standard procedures for species identification of biological material.
Słowa kluczowe
forensic biology, species identification, polymorphism, PCR, mtDNA.