Volume 54, Issue 4 pp. 857-861

Simple and Sensitive Method for Identification of Human DNA by Allele-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction of FOXP2

Kenichi Hiroshige B.S.

Kenichi Hiroshige B.S.

Forensic Science Laboratory, Fukuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 7-7 Higashikoen, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-8576, Japan.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Human Genetics, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahimachi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.

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Mikiko Soejima Ph.D.

Mikiko Soejima Ph.D.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Human Genetics, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahimachi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.

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Tomoki Nishioka Ph.D.

Tomoki Nishioka Ph.D.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Human Genetics, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahimachi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.

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Shigeo Kamimura R.A.

Shigeo Kamimura R.A.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Human Genetics, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahimachi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.

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Yoshiro Koda Ph.D.

Yoshiro Koda Ph.D.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Human Genetics, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahimachi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.

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First published: 23 June 2009
Citations: 8
Additional information and reprint requests:
Yoshiro Koda, Ph.D.
Department of Forensic Medicine and Human Genetics
Kurume University School of Medicine
67 Asahimachi
Kurume 830-0011
Japan
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Abstract: The forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) gene is specifically involved in speech and language development in humans. The sequence is well conserved among many vertebrate species but has accumulated amino acid changes in the human lineage. The aim of this study was to develop a simple method to discriminate between human and nonhuman vertebrate DNA in forensic specimens by amplification of a human-specific genomic region. In the present study, we designed an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers to amplify smaller than 70-bp regions of FOXP2 to identify DNA as being of human or nonhuman, including ape, origin. PCR amplification was also successfully performed using fluorescence-labeled primers, and this method allows a single PCR reaction with a genomic DNA sample as small as 0.01 ng. This system also identified the presence of human DNA in two blood stains stored for 20 and 38 years. The results suggested the potential usefulness of FOXP2 as an identifier of human DNA in forensic samples.

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