Forensic application of a mtDNA minisequencing 52plex: tracing maternal lineages in Spanish Civil War remains

In this study we report the application of a minisequencing panel of 52 SNPs of the mtDNA, which allows the determination of the major world-wide mitochondrial haplogroups, in highly degraded samples. A total of 25 human remains from a mass grave of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) were analyzed in order to define their corresponding mtDNA haplogroup and, subsequently, investigate possible maternal relationships with the available reference samples. The results highlight the potential of this 52 mtSNP panel as an efficient screening method that can be used as an alternative or complementary approach to mtDNA sequencing in order to discriminate among maternal lineages in highly degraded DNA samples.
Source: Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series - Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Source Type: research