Volume 1, Issue 1 , Pages 16-18, August 2008
The visualization and quantification of cell nuclei in telogen hair roots by fluorescence microscopy, as a pre-DNA analysis assessment
Abstract
Although nuclear DNA-profiling of human hairs is a well-known technique in forensic investigations, its success rate is quite low. Because the extracted nuclear DNA (nuDNA) is scarce and often degraded, a simple and effective method was developed to estimate the number of cell nuclei in telogen roots. DAPI, a fluorescent, non-destructive DNA-stain, allows visualizing nuclear DNA and does not interfere with subsequent PCR analyses. After staining 3242 roots from 27 volunteers and subsequent STR-profiling of a selection of roots, we show that the amount of analysable nuDNA can be predicted. This screening method allows the genetic laboratory to analyse only the most promising hair roots.
Keywords: Telogen hair, DAPI, Fluorescence microscopy, Short tandem repeat
PII: S1875-1768(08)00135-2
doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2007.10.098
© 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Volume 1, Issue 1 , Pages 16-18, August 2008
