Abstract
Vitreous humour (VH) is routinely collected for toxicological analyses. However, only a few studies have examined its possible use in genotyping. Because of its isolation from the rest of the body, later onset of postmortem changes, and availability, VH could be a potential source of DNA for postmortem identification and other molecular analyses in forensic genetics. During forensic autopsies, samples of different VH volumes (5 ml, 4 ml, 3 ml, 2 ml, 1 ml, and 0.5 ml) were taken from 66 cadavers 24–48 h after death. DNA was also isolated from the samples immediately after collection and after a specific time of storage (1, 2, and 6 months). DNA was isolated using phenol‒chloroform‒isoamyl alcohol (PCI), and the yield and purity of the obtained DNA were determined spectrophotometrically using a FastGene NanoView Photometer. The integrity of the isolated DNA molecule was determined by PCR amplification of the hTERT (113 bp) gene. The results showed that VH could be a reliable source of genetic material for forensic analysis, and the method used for DNA extraction was effective. The yield of the isolated DNA ranged from 6.20 to 609.5 ng/µl, and the purity of the samples was 1.24–2.34. The isolated DNA concentration and integrity depend on the sample volume, but the DNA purity does not. It is also shown that DNA can be extracted from VH samples that have been stored for up to 6 months at − 20 °C. Therefore, using VH can be a valuable material for DNA identification.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac and the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (No 451-03-47/2023-01/200111).
Funding
This study was supported by grant (project JP:05/13) from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Serbia and by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (No 451-03-47/2023-01/200111).
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Institutional ethical approval was obtained in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Authorization to use human biological samples for research was obtained. The Ethics Committee of the University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, the Ethic Committee of University Clinical Centre of Kragujevac (No. 01–2798), Appeal Public Prosecutor’s Office from Kragujevac (A No. 79/13) and Higher Court in Kragujevac (SU-VIII-110/13) agreed to these investigations.
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Čanović, V., Slović, Ž., Todorović, D. et al. The use of vitreous humour as a potential source of DNA for postmortem identification in forensic science. Forensic Sci Med Pathol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00760-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00760-w