Biomedical subjects

Marie Allen

Publications and source records attributed to Marie Allen.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Universal tag arrays in forensic SNP analysis.

Microarray-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping enables simultaneous and rapid detection of a large number of markers and is thus an attractive method for forensic individual acid identification. This assay relies on a one-color detection system and minisequencing in solution before hybridization to universal tag arrays. The minisequencing reaction is based on incorporation of a fluorescent dideoxynucleotide to a primer containing a tag-sequence flanking the position to be interrogated. This one-color system detects C and T polymorphisms in separate reactions on multiple polymerase chain reaction targets with the fluorophore TAMRA coupled to the respective dideoxynucleotide. After incorporation, tagged primer sequences are hybridized through their complementary sequence on the array, and positive signals are detected by a confocal laser-scanner.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Mitochondrial D-loop and coding sequence analysis using pyrosequencing.

In forensic casework analysis, mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) often is used when the evidence material contains scarce amounts of DNA. Here, a mitochondrial DNA typing system for D-loop and coding region analysis based on pyrosequencing is described. Pyrosequencing is a real-time, single-tube sequencing-by-synthesis method, in which a cascade of enzymatic reactions yields detectable light. This pyrosequencing system has a higher resolution than the D-loop analysis performed routinely today as it also covers informative positions in the mitochondrial coding region. The system is composed of 16 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments and 24 pyrosequencing reactions with a turn around time for a 96-well plate of less than 3 h after PCR.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Forensic casework analysis using the HVI/HVII mtDNA linear array assay.

The mitochondrial hypervariable regions I and II have proven to be a useful target for analysis of forensic materials, in which the amount of DNA is limited or highly degraded. Conventional mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing can be time-consuming and expensive, limitations that can be minimized using a faster and less expensive typing assay. We have evaluated the exclusion capacity of the linear array mtDNA HVI/HVII region-sequence typing assay (Roche Applied Science) in 16 forensic cases comprising 90 samples. Using the HVI/HVII mtDNA linear array, 56% of the samples were excluded and thus less than half of the samples require further sequencing due to a match or inconclusive results. Of all the samples that were excluded by sequence analysis, 79% could be excluded using the HVI/HVII linear array alone. Using the HVI/HVII mtDNA linear array assay, we demonstrate the potential to decrease sequencing efforts substantially and thereby reduce the cost and the turn-around time in casework analysis.

Crime↗

PubMed2004

A DNA microarray system for forensic SNP analysis.

Forensic DNA analysis is routinely performed using polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers. However, for degraded or minute DNA samples, analysis of autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in short fragments might be more successful. Furthermore, sequencing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is often performed on highly degraded or scarce samples due to the high copy number of mtDNA in each cell. Due to the increasing number of complete mtDNA genome sequences available, the limited discrimination power of an mtDNA analysis, may be increased by analysis of coding region polymorphisms in addition to the non-coding variation. Since sequence analysis of the coding region would require more material than generally present in forensic samples, an alternative SNP analysis approach is required. We have developed a one-colour microarray-based SNP detection system for limited forensic materials. The method is based on minisequencing in solution prior to hybridisation to universal tag-arrays. In a first outline of a forensic chip, a combination of 12 nuclear and 21 mitochondrial SNP markers are analysed simultaneously. The mitochondrial markers on the chip are polymorphisms within the hypervariable region as well as in the coding region. Even though the number of markers in the current system is limited, it can easily be extended to yield a greater power of discrimination. When fully developed, microarray analysis provides a promising system for efficient sensitive SNP analysis of forensic samples in the future.

Complementarity Determining Regions↗

PubMed2003

Analysis of the mitochondrial genome in sudden infant death syndrome.

AIM: To investigate the mitochondrial genome and its association with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). METHODS: Twenty SIDS infants were screened for previously reported mitochondrial DNA mutations using direct sequencing. The whole mitochondrial genome was also sequenced for six of the infants. RESULTS: Three substitutions, A11467G, A12308G and G12372A, comprising a haplogroup were present in four infants diagnosed as pure SIDS. This haplogroup was also common in a control group. CONCLUSIONS: No specific mutation or polymorphism was found in association with SIDS.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

PubMed2003

Rapid quantification and sex determination of forensic evidence materials.

DNA quantification of forensic evidence is very valuable for an optimal use of the available biological material. Moreover, sex determination is of great importance as additional information in criminal investigations as well as in identification of missing persons, no suspect cases, and ancient DNA studies. While routine forensic DNA analysis based on short tandem repeat markers includes a marker for sex determination, analysis of samples containing scarce amounts of DNA is often based on mitochondrial DNA, and sex determination is not performed. In order to allow quantification and simultaneous sex determination on minute amounts of DNA, an assay based on real-time PCR analysis of a marker within the human amelogenin gene has been developed. The sex determination is based on melting curve analysis, while an externally standardized kinetic analysis allows quantification of the nuclear DNA copy number in the sample. This real-time DNA quantification assay has proven to be highly sensitive, enabling quantification of single DNA copies. Although certain limitations were apparent, the system is a rapid, cost-effective, and flexible assay for analysis of forensic casework samples.

Amelogenin↗

PubMed2002

Real-time DNA quantification of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in forensic analysis.

The rapid development of molecular genetic analysis tools has made it possible to analyze most biological materialfound at the scene of a crime. Evidence materials containing DNA quantities too low to be analyzed using nuclear markers can be analyzed using the highly abundant mtDNA. However, there is a shortage of sensitive nDNA and mtDNA quantification assays. In this study, an assay for the quantification of very small amounts of DNA, based on the real-time Taq-Man assay, has been developed. This analysis will provide an estimate of the total number of nDNA copies and the total number of mtDNA molecules in a particular evidence material. The quantification is easy to perform, fast, and requires a minimum of the valuable DNA extracted from the evidence materiaL The results will aid in the evaluation of whether the specific sample is suitable for nDNA or mtDNA analysis. Furthermore, the optimal amount of DNA to be used in further analysis can be estimated ensuring that the analysis is successful and that the DNA is retained for future independent analysis. This assay has significant advantages over existing techniques because of its high sensitivity, accuracy, and the combined analysis of nDNA and mtDNA. Moreover, it has the potential to provide additional information about the presence of inhibitors in forensic samples. Subsequent mitochondrial and nuclear analysis of quantified samples illustrated the potential to predict the number of DNA copies required for a successful analysis in a certain typing assay.

Cell Nucleus↗