DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/X547-Y361
Defense Date
2006
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Forensic Science and Biology
First Advisor
Dr. Tracey Dawson Cruz
Abstract
When forensic biological samples yield low quality/low quantity DNA, thecurrent STR analysis methods do not generate acceptable profiles. Whole genomeamplification can be used to pre-amplify the entire genome for downstream analyses. A commercially available kit for DOP-PCR, a form of WGA, is currently being used in the clinical for downstream single locus targets. Forensic analyses utilize a multiplex amplification. This study determined that the "home brew" created by our lab performs the same as the commercially available kit. Future optimization studies of DOP-PCR can utilize this "home brew". Additionally, this research determined that a 10 second increase in electrokinetic injection time onto the Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) in combination with a post-STR amplification purification and elution into formamide produces a slightly higher percent STR allele success over the standard protocol. After future optimization studies, this may be a useful method to obtain more accurate and complete STR profiles from low quality/low quantity biological samples.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
June 2008