Forensic Biology Screening Workshop

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• Forensic Biology Screening Workshop
• Future Trends in Serology

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Detection of Body Fluids / Tissue

• Body fluid / tissue specific messenger RNA
• Cells have a pattern of gene expression that is
  unique to each cell type
• Looking for presence and abundance of specific
  mRNAs

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Detection of Body Fluids / Tissue

• Examples
• Blood Beta Spectrin ? erythrocyte membrane
  skeleton protein
• Semen Protamine 12 ? DNA binding proteins
  involved in condensation of sperm chromatin
• Saliva Histatin 3 ? non immune defense system
  in oral cavity

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Detection of Body Fluids / Tissue

• Pros
• Increase specificity to common indicator tests
  used today
• Decrease in time
• Automatable
• Ability to multiplex
• Possibly co-extract the mRNA and DNA

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Laser Microdissection

• Ability of a microscope to detect and dissect
  sperm cells from slides
• Use laser microdissection and pressure
  catapulting
• Laser precisely cuts around sperm cell on slide
• Laser pulses and catapults the selected material
  into caps of microcentrifuge tubes for further
  processing

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Laser Microdissection

• Pros
• Eliminate human sperm cell searches
• Decrease in time
• Increase recovery of cellular material containing
  DNA from low sperm samples

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Sources

• Jane Juusola PHD, National Center for Forensic
  Science at UCF Messenger RNA Profiling A
  Prototype Method To Supplant Conventional Methods
  for Body Fluid and Tissue Identification
• http//www.palm-microlaser.com