Analysis and interpretation of short tandem repeat microvariants and ...

94 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCESDNA extract using locus-specific primers for allele source identifition.Electrophoresis 1996;17:1283–93.short tandem repeat amplification systems for individual identificacationis a viable alternative for forensic laboratories.14. Kimpton C, Gill P, Walton A, Urquhart A, Millican ES, AdamsIn summary, when using STR detection methods which stainM. Automated DNA profiling employing multiplex amplificationamplified alleles, such as silver staining kit or SYBR ® Green I in of short tandem repeat loci. PCR Meth Appl 1993;3(1):13–22.which visual allele calls are necessary, samples should be run adja- 15. Micka K, Sprecher CJ, Lins AM, Comey CT, Koons BW, Crousecent to allelic ladders. If fluorescently tagged primers are used toCA, et al. Validation of multiplex polymorphic STR amplificationsets developed for personal identification applications. J Forensicamplify STR loci followed by laser detection and allele calls areSci 1996;42(4):582–90.made using the appropriate software, ‘‘off-ladder’’ or ‘‘not in 16. Puers C, Lins AM, Sprecher CJ, Brinkmann B, Schumm JW. Analysisof polymorphic short tandem repeat loci using well-characterrange’’allele call results should be evaluated with caution. Allelepatterns should be verified using locus-specific primers. Finally,ized allelic ladders. Proceedings from the Fourth Internationalregardless of the molecular mechanism responsible for the synthe-Symposium on Human Identification, Scottsdale, AZ, 1993;161–72.sis of a microvariant, what is important is that they do exist, albeit 17. Puers C, Hammond HA, Jin L, Caskey CT, Schumm JW. Identificararely,and all STR allele detection systems should readily identifytion of repeat sequence heterogeneity at the polymorphic short tandemrepeat locus HUMTHO1 (AATG)n and reassignment of allelesthese alleles in evidentiary samples. The present study clearly deminpopulation analysis by using a locus-specific allelic ladder. Amonstrates this premise, as different CTT sequence primer sourcesJ Hum Genet 1993;53(4):953–8.and different allele detection systems provided concordant results18. Robertson J, Sgueglia JB, Badger CA, Juston AC, Ballantyne J.for unusual CTT amplified band patterns.Forensic applications of a rapid, sensitive, and precise multiplexanalysis of the four short tandem repeat loci HUMVWF31/A,HUMTHO1, HUMF13A1, and HUMFES/FPS. ElectrophoresisReferences1995;16:1568–76.1. Alford R, Hammond HA, Coto I, Caskey CT. Rapid and efficient19. Schmitt C, Schmutztler A, Prinz M, Staak M. High sensitive DNAresolution of parentage by amplification of short tandem repeats.typing approaches for the analysis of forensic evidence: comparisonAm J Hum Genet 1994;55(1):190–5.of nested variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) amplification2. 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Curr Opin Genet Devapplications. Am J Hum Genet 1994;55:175–89.1994;4:832–7.12. Kimpton C, Fisher D, Watson S, Adams M, Urquhart A, Lygo J,et al. Evaluation of an automated DNA profiling system employing Additional information and reprint requests:multiplex amplification of four tetrameric STR loci. Int J Leg Med Cecelia A. Crouse, Ph.D.1994;106:302–11. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory13. Kimpton C, Oldroyd NJ, Watson SK, Frazier RRE, Johnson PE, 3228 Gun Club RoadMillican ES, et al. ‘‘Validation of highly discriminating multiplex West Palm Beach, Florida 33406