DNA Polymorphism/Fingerprinting
The: F; F'H-ensic Attempt in InM. CIIANDRA
Forensie Sciences Department, Madras - 600 004, India
PARMAKİz! Ik Adli Uygulamalar h;\şlayan ve biyolojide
kkelerin kişileştirilmc\ i
A;\NAPOORANI, B. NAZ::I.LDDI'\
duşturan DNA parmakm adli sorunun çözümüne 1
inanılmaktadır. DNA parmakizi uygulaması, sorunlara getirdiği doğrudan ve kesin çözümler nedenıyle
adli yöntemler arasmda haklı olarak çok üstün bir yere sahiptir. ller yeni uygulam an m başlangıcında olduğu gibi DNA pannakizi çalışmalarını gerçekleştirirken de, değişik fonnasyonda bilim adamlarınm
birlikte çalışması, ayrıca farklı kuruluşların birbirine desteği gerekli ve vazgeçilmez koşullardiL Bu
yazımızda, IIindistan'daki adli uygulamalara DNA parmakizi teknolojisinin cntcgrasyonu için son üç
yıl içcrisinde gerçekleştirdiğimiz çalışmalar sunulmaktadır.
1.985 of "DNA fingcrpıınıing"
Owing to its direct and superior status in
i.mpuıtant milestone in the
rclevance DNA fingcrprirıtinp, variety of applicatiom. Ihel"l discovcry, here ahu. operational forensic Ldlili
has to necessarily from and interact i
(biotechnology) groups whose objectives may perhaps (usually) be differenl. It is in this context that wc present here our (about three years') experience by way of maielen attempt to put DNA finger-printing into Indian [orensic arcna.
Kcy words : DNA Jingerprinıing - Indian Jorensics
68 S. KARUTIlA PANDIAN et al
INTRODUCTION
Individualization is the max im for any forensic practice. In the case of biospecimens under examination, since Landsteiner's discovery in 1900, this could be very meaning-fully attainable at the molecular level İtself via genetic markers: antigens, protein s and enzymes; the more recentlmajor contribution in this direction has been by the superpol-ymorphic HLA (human lcucocyte antigen system A). These typable phenotypically ex-pressed genetic signals have however been surpassed by leaps and bounds by the discov-ery of polymorphism at the genomic DNA leveL.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), initially proposed and practised in this context has been pushed to the background in a spectacular way by the latest concept of identifying the genetic variations in the minisatellite regions of genomic DNA, which has been termed "DNA fingerprinting" by the pioneer, Prof. leffreys (1). He could achieve this by preparing and using cloned minisatellite probes (tandem repeats of short -33 bp- core sequences from human myoglobin gene).to demonstrate simultane-ous detection of several unlinked loci each with multiple alleles. Inheritance pattern, populalion and pedigree data, reproducibility and stability, heterozygosity and forensic application have been convincing as reported in his group's subsequent works. As things stand the DNA Commission of the International Society for Forensic
Hemoge-netics has also, though with stipulations, recommended the use of DNA fingerprinting.
EVOLUTION OF EXPERIENCE
The "plus and minus" offorensic DNAfingerprinting
Measured on any count DNA fingerprinting has all the positive/lucrative points for forensic utilily. Detectability in minute quantity of DNA from hair root, years old bio-logical stains etc. and the proven possibility of generating (through polymerase chain reaction) multiple copies of trace DNA (2, 3) go [urther to assert the importance. The "hurdles" however for an operational forensic laboratory would be the lack of expertise, infrastructural facility and financial constraints. Considering the long-term feedback, if the scientists and policy makers make a sincere attempt, the se "teething" problcms can be solved in a phased manner. A major step in this direction is obviously arapport with biotechnologists; and that is how the earliest forensic application of DNA fingerprinting was assessed (4).
The Indian Initiative -by the Farensic Sciences Department (FSD), Madras
Being in the frontline of forensic biochemical genetics and HLA typing for quite few years, the scientists at FSD, Madras do always look for novelty for self-observationl
exploitation and hence the initiative in India for the first time by FSD, Madras. Additional motivating point is the long standing good-will from collaborating friends-biotechnologists in Madras and Madurai (Tamil Nadu, India).
Exercise by FSD- Madras
Fundamental knowledge, basic infrastructure and related expertise cannot by them-sel ve s enable taking up new ventures. So, in importing DNA fingerprinting technology to India, the scientists of FSD, Madras underwent (at different institutes with microbial biotechnology missions) training in relevant areas (Tabı e I). Consequential follow-up
has resulted in some contributions as detailed in Tabl{f II. This apart, the sharing of knowledge/technique as generated and pursued by FSD, Madras was alsa willingly done by way ofpromoting sincere fresher-entrants (Table III). Results from on-going experi-ments to monitor DNA polymorphism in indigenous population and evaluate forensic extrapolation to local conditions will be presented elsewhere.
Table i. Details on DNA polymorphism/fingerprinting rdated training undergone by the seientists of Forensie Scienees Department (FSD), Madras.
Name of the FSD scientist K.S. Annapoorani C. Damodaran K.S. Annapoorani B. Naziruddin S. Karutha Pandian S. Karutha Pandian C. Damodaran Nature of training ELlSA (Apıil 1985)
DNA isolation, restnetion, submanne electrophoresis and Southem blot (August 1986) as above
(Dee.14-17, 1987) All experiments in DNA fingerprinting plus isolation of bacıenal DNA, veetor han dı ing and photobiotiny lation (Aug. 25 - Sept. 21; GCL 14-27, 1988)
DNA fingerprinting and cell eulture (seheduled for May 2 - Aug. 1, 1989)
Host Institute
Institute of Chemical Biology,
Calcutta
Centre for Bioteehnology, Anna University, Madras
as above
Department of Bioteehnology, School of Biologieal Scienees, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
70 S. KARUTIlA PANDIAN et al
Tablc II. Some contributlons from FSD, Madras towards DNA
Scientific gathcring/journal
l3ıh Annual Confercnce of Indian
Society of Human Genetics (OeL26-28,1987, Madurai)
Police Officers and forcnsic Scien-tisıs of Kamaıaka Sıaıe
(Feb.lS, 1988, Bangalore) Police Research and Development
Journal (India) Sıııdcnıs of M.Sc. (forensic Science) Sıudcnıs of M.Sc. (Forensic Seience) Sıudents of M.Se. (Forensic Scieııcc) Sıııdenls of M.Sc. (Forensic Scienee)
Partieipanıs of ıhe D13T Workshop
on Monoclonal Antibodies (Feb.2 - March 1, 1989, Madras)
Contribution (papcr/lccturc)
DNA polymorphism
DNA fingerprinting and forcnsic science
DNA polymorphism,
the Indian scene
DNA polyrnorphism and its
application to forcnsic seience
DNA fingcrpriııting with special
rcference to paterniıy dispute and sexual assault
DNA fingerprinıiııg and iıs
applicaıion lo medicine
A biochemisı's look ai D?\A
polymorphisrn DNA fingerprinting Author C. Damodaran K.S. Annapoorani 13. Naziruddin K. Dharmalingam C. Damodaran S. Karulha Pandian K.S. Annapoorani B. Nazinıddin P. Chandra Sekharan K. Dharmaliııgam C. Damodaran S. Karulha Pandian C. Damodaran C. Damodaran C. Damodaran C. Damodaran
Table III. Training programs offered by FSD, Madras, to scientists from other organizations.
DetaiIs on the trainee
One scientist from Central Forensic Science Lab, !\ew Dcllii
Two scientists from Frcdrick Institute of Plant Protection and Toxicology (FIPPA T), Madras
Two scientists from School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehm Technological University, Hyderabad
Nature of training
DNA isolation, restriction, agarose gel electrophoresis and Southem blot transfer as above as above Training glven by S. Kamıha Pandian C. Damodaran S. Kamıha Pandian C. Damodaran S. Kamıha Pandian C. Damodaran
Table IV. Collaborations for FSD, Madras, for technical help/advice/interaction.
S.No.: Scientist and affiliation
1 . Prof. Dr. K. Dharmalingam,
Department of Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, MK University, Madurai
2. Prof. Dr. Kunthala J ayaraman,
Centre for Biotcchnology, Anna University, Madras 3. Prof. Dr. A. J. Jeffreys,
University of Leicester, UK
4. Dr. D. J. Werrett, CRSE, IlOFSS, UK 5 . Prof. Dr. J. Dausset, CEPH, France 6. Dr. L. S. M. Stork, Aachcn, FRG
CONCLUSION
it may not be impcrtincnt or over cmphatic to mention that DNA fingerprinting will be the in-thing and integral part of forensic science. Tic-up with suitable collaborators (as happens for us: Tablc IV, to whom we remain highly thankful) and encouraging /
72 S. KARUTHA PANDIAN cl al
[resh literaturc inputs on lhe feasibility wiU continue to be the driving forcc. Forensic fratemity in India and elsewhere is therefore sure to tap the benefits of DNA fingerprint-ing.
REFERENCES
Jeffreys, A.J., Wilson, V., Thein. S.L. (1985) Nature, 314, 67-73.
2 Marx, L. (1988) Science, 240, 1408-1410.
3 Higuchi, R., von I3croldingcn, c.ıl., Scnsabaugh, G.f., Erlich, ıl.A. (1988) Nalure, 332,
543-546.
4 Gill, P., Jcffreys, A.J., Wenel!, D.J. (1985) Nalure, 318, 577-579.
5 Wells, R.A. (1988) in Genome Analysis, A PraCıical Approach (K.E. Davics. cd) pp. 153, IRL
Press, Oxford.
Reprints request to
C. Damodaran
forensic Sciences Department
