Genetic analyses on bone remains with the PowerPlex Fusion System kit

Abstract

Genetic analyses on bone remains in the field of human identification represent one of the most stimulating and complex challenges for forensic geneticists. In this work, preliminary results of the analysis of bone remains performed by the use of the commercial kit named PowerPlex® Fusion System (Promega Corporation, Madison, WI) are shown. Our study was conducted on 10 casework samples that came to our observation, for which the Prosecutor asked to perform genetic analyses to the purpose of either personal identification or the assessment of a parental relationship. Taking into account the analytical challenges already faced during the analyses previously performed using other commercial STRs kits, our attention was focused on 3 important variable factors that can determine the success or failure of the analyses: the age of the remains, the environmental conditions of storage and/or finding and finally, where known, the cause of death. The preliminary results of this study show that the possibility to obtain a genetic profile useful for identification purposes depends on the variables represented by age of the samples and environmental conditions of storage/finding, with a particular interest to the latter. This study shows, on the one hand, the importance of bone remains as an indisputable resource in cases of forensic interest, and on the other hand the issues related to the genetic analysis of these samples because of the frequent presence of chemical-physical factors responsible for DNA degradation and/or inhibition.