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westForensic Epigenetics, Novel Methods for Body Fluid Identification and Phenotyping

Jun 10, 2022 11:06 AM - Jun 10, 2022 12:06 PM, Bruce McCord, Biological Sciences, Section Presentation

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Determining the type and origin of body fluids in a forensic investigation can provide important assistance to criminal investigations. We have developed a set of epigenetic markers which produce unique and specific patterns of DNA methylation that can be used to identify blood, semen, saliva, sweat, and vaginal epithelial cells. These new methods easily fit within the workflow of a standard forensic DNA laboratory. Our procedure involves the testing of DNA extracted from human samples, which is then amplified using bisulfite modified PCR. Specific primers amplify the region of interest, and the quantitative methylation profile of each locus is determined by pyrosequencing. The versatility of these new markers is presented by showing the results of validation studies on sensitivity, human specificity, stability, and mixture resolution. We also will demonstrate recent results on the specificity of saliva markers. Saliva, composed of different cell types, exhibits differences in methylation percent depending on the collection method. Thus, a buccal/lip swab is different than spit, potentially allowing the differentiation between deposition methods. Lastly, we present additional data on the utilization of pyrosequencing for age and other phenotypic information such as smoking status. The results of these methods can provide important information in criminal casework.