Postmortem stability of DNA.
Author(s): Bär W, Kratzer A, Mächler M, Schmid W
Publication: Forensic Sci Int, 1988, Vol. 39, Page 59
PubMed ID: 2905319 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
Conclusion of Paper
Studies
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Study Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the degradation of DNA in various tissues (brain cortex, lymph node, psoas muscle, blood, kidney, thyroid gland) at postmortem intervals from 6 hours to 3 weeks.
Summary of Findings:
All specimens evaluated, except blood, exhibited a decrease in the yield of total DNA and a decrease in the proportion of high-molecular-weight to low-molecular-weight DNA with increasing postmortem interval. DNA extracted from cerebral cortex, lymph nodes, and psoas muscle yielded sufficient high-molecular weight DNA to successfully perform DNA fingerprinting (with minisatellite probe 33.15) up to 3 weeks postmortem. Spleen, liver, thyroid and kidney specimens exhibited much more rapid degradation, such that high-molecular weight DNA adequate for DNA fingerprinting was absent by 2 to 5 days postmortem.
Biospecimens
- Tissue - Brain
- Tissue - Muscle (Skeletal)
- Bodily Fluid - Blood
- Tissue - Spleen
- Tissue - Kidney
- Tissue - Thyroid Gland
- Tissue - Lymph Node
- Tissue - Liver
Preservative Types
- Frozen
Diagnoses:
- Autopsy
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform DNA Southern blot DNA Electrophoresis Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Biospecimen Acquisition Biospecimen location Brain
Lymph node
Liver
Spleen
Psoas muscle
Kidney
Thyroid gland
Blood
Preaquisition Postmortem interval 0.2 d
0.3 d
0.4 d
0.6 d
0.8 d
0.9 d
1.0 d
1.2 d
1.5 d
2.0 d
2.1 d
2.5 d
3.5 d
4.0 d
5.0 d
6.0 d
10 d
15 d
16 d
19 d