Forensics and Mitochondrial DNA: Applications, Debates, and Foundations

Bruce Budowle, Marc W. Allard, Mark R. Wilson, Ranajit Chakraborty

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

205 Scopus citations

Abstract

Debate on the validity and reliability of scientific methods often arises in the courtroom. When the government (i.e., the prosecution) is the proponent of evidence, the defense is obliged to challenge its admissibility. Regardless, those who seek to use DNA typing methodologies to analyze forensic biological evidence have a responsibility to understand the technology and its applications so a proper foundation(s) for its use can be laid. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), an extranuclear genome, has certain features that make it desirable for forensics, namely, high copy number, lack of recombination, and matrilineal inheritance. mtDNA typing has become routine in forensic biology and is used to analyze old bones, teeth, hair shafts, and other biological samples where nuclear DNA content is low. To evaluate results obtained by sequencing the two hypervariable regions of the control region of the human mtDNA genome, one must consider the genetically related issues of nomenclature, reference population databases, heteroplasmy, paternal leakage, recombination, and, of course, interpretation of results. We describe the approaches, the impact some issues may have on interpretation of mtDNA analyses, and some issues raised in the courtroom.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-141
Number of pages23
JournalAnnual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics
Volume4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Keywords

  • Heteroplasmy
  • Nomenclature
  • Paternal inheritance
  • Population data
  • Recombination

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