Recommendations of the Polish-speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG-PL) regarding the disclosure of biological traces and the handling of evidence for identification tests. / Zalecenia Polskojezycznej Grupy Miedzynarodowego Towarzystwa Genetyki Sadowej (ISFG-PL) dotyczace ujawniania i identyfikacji sladów biologicznych przeznaczonych do badan genetycznych.

The purpose of this paper is to formulate recommendations for the disclosure of biological traces in the laboratory and the handling of forensic evidence submitted for identification tests, recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics. The paper organizes the knowledge of the most relevant stages of preliminary analysis of biological traces based on both literature sources and those resulting from years of research practice. Recommendations formulated in the course of multi-stage expert consultations contained in this study should be used in the development of laboratory procedures applied during the execution.

Population Genetic Data of 30 Insertion-Deletion Markers in the Polish Population.

(1) Background: Insertion-deletion (InDel) markers show the advantages of both short tandem repeats (STRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and are considered alternative markers in forensic genetics. (2) Methods: Allelic frequencies and corresponding forensic efficiency parameters of 30 autosomal polymorphic InDel loci included in the Investigator DIPplex kit (Qiagen) were obtained in a sample of 631 unrelated Polish individuals. Allelic frequency data were compared with those reported for selected populations (3) Results: All the loci conformed with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after applying a Bonferroni correction and no pair-wise significant linkage disequilibrium was detected. (4) Conclusions: DIPplex Kit differences were high among populations worldwide. The InDel markers are highly discriminating for human identification purposes in the Polish population.

Computed Tomography versus Optical Scanning: A Comparison of Different Methods of 3D Data Acquisition for Tooth Replication.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to compare the accuracy of different methods of data acquisition and data reconstruction and to assess their usefulness for 3D printing of tooth replicas. METHODS: 3-dimensional models of molar and canine teeth obtain utilizing CBCT examination with different protocols, and optical scanning was compared with models derived from micro-computed (micro-CT) examination using Geomagic Studio Qualify software. A pairwise comparison of 3D models with analysis of standard deviation and the value of the mean distance of given surfaces was performed. RESULTS: Standard deviation and the value of the mean distance were lowest for optical scanning followed by CBC in high and standard resolution in all tested protocols. Models, obtained with high-resolution CBCT protocols, of teeth in and outside of alveolar bone showed similar average distance parameters, but standard deviation parameter was significantly lower for models of teeth scanned outside of the socket. Good surface representation on all models was seen at relatively smooth areas while in areas of high changes in the geometry CBCT based models performed inferiorly to those obtained from an optical scanner. CONCLUSIONS: In case of teeth of noncomplicated texture, independently from a position (within or outside the alveolar socket), the high-resolution CBCT seems to be a sufficient method to obtain data for 3D printed tooth replica. Optical scanning performs better when a detailed replica is necessary.

Analysis of human dentition from Early Bronze Age: 4000-year-old puzzle.

This paper presents the first ever paleodontological investigation of human remains from an archeological site in Central Europe dating from the Early Bronze Age and attributed to the Strzyzow Culture. It corroborates the knowledge gained from archeological, anthropological and genetical investigations. Our study aimed to assess dental status, dental morphology and dental pathologies as well as tooth wear and enamel hypoplasia based on visual inspection and stereomicroscopic investigation. The research was supported by CBCT imaging to obtain digital images and 3D reconstructions as well as 2D radiographs essential for dental age estimation. All of the 191 teeth discovered showed morphological similarity, with adult teeth showing similar color, shape and size. A maxillary molar presenting with a unique root morphology and a mandibular molar with a rare occlusal surface were found. Both permanent and deciduous dentition presented significant tooth wear. A few specimens displayed signs of dental caries, periapical pathology and antemortem tooth loss. Three individuals exhibited linear enamel hypoplasia. CBCT provided high-quality 2D images useful for dental age estimation by non-destructive methods. Estimated dental age correlated with the age estimated by other anthropological methods. In one case, this was crucial because of insufficient material for anthropological analysis. The presented studies have proved that besides the skeleton, teeth can be used as a fundamental tool in assessing the overall health and living conditions of paleopopulations. It would seem that there is potential for considerable development to be made in the research and investigation of paleodontological material using CBCT.

Polish population data on 15 autosomal STRs of AmpFlSTR NGM PCR kit.

The objective of the research was to provide a comprehensive database of autosomal microsatellite loci included in AmpFlSTR NGM PCR kit for a population of Poland considering possible genetic differentiation of a forensic interest. Fifteen STR markers were analyzed in 2041 unrelated individuals residing in eight geographically different regions. All the loci were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The combined probability of match is 3.52 × 10(-19) and the combined Power of Exclusion is 0.9999998. The F(ST) estimate over all 15 STRs is 0.0051 for the Polish population. We established that a combined NGM database may be employed for a Polish population.

Population genetics of 30 INDELs in populations of Poland and Taiwan.

The Investigator DIPplex(®) kit (Qiagen) contain components for the simultaneous amplification and analysis of 30 biallelic autosomal INDELs and amelogenin. The objective of this study was to estimate the diversity of the 30 markers in Polish (N P = 122) and Taiwanese (N T = 126) population samples and to evaluate their usefulness in forensic genetics. All amplicon lengths were shorter than 160 base pairs. The DIPplex genotype distributions showed no significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg rule expectations (Bonferroni corrected) except for DLH39 in the Taiwanese population. Among the Poles and the Taiwanese the mean observed heterozygosity values are 0.4385 and 0.4079, and the combined matching probability values are 7.98 × 10(-14) and 1.22 × 10(-11), respectively. The investigated marker set has been confirmed as a potential extension to standard short tandem repeat-based kits or a separate informative system for individual identification and kinship analysis. Eight INDELs have been selected as possible ancestry informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms for further analyses.

The conclusive role of postmortem computed tomography (CT) of the skull and computer-assisted superimposition in identification of an unknown body.

Computed tomography is commonly used in modern medicine, and thus, it is often helpful for medicolegal purposes, especially as part of the antemortem record. The application of postmortem computed tomography and 3D reconstruction of the skull in challenging cases is reported, and its valuable contribution to positive identification is discussed. This paper presents a case in which the body of an unknown individual is identified. Positive identification had not been possible despite a multidisciplinary examination. The postmortem use of computerized tomography and 3D reconstruction of the skull followed by the comparison of individual morphological characteristics of the viscerocranium showed the concordant points between the deceased and a missing person. Finally, superimposition using a 3D-reconstructed skull instead of the skeletonized skull demonstrated an adequate degree of morphological consistency in the facial images of the analyzed individuals that lead to positive identification. It was concluded that where other methods of personal identification had failed, the use of postmortem computed tomography had proved to be instrumental in the positive identification of the deceased.

Polish population data for 17 Y-STRs and 8 Y-SNPs markers / Badania populacji Wielkopolski w zakresie 17 markerów Y-STRs oraz 8 Y-SNPs.

The aim of our study was to establish the genetic differentiation of the population of the province of Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) for 17 Y-STRs and 8 Y-SNPs and comparison of the Polish population with other selected populations. The investigations included 201 unrelated male inhabitants of the Greater Poland region We found 184 unique haplotypes for 17 Y-STR. The haplotype discrimination capacity was 0.96. The most frequent haplotype Ht-50 was found in 3 samples and 7 haplotypes observed twice. Further, the same samples were analyzed with Y-8 SNPs markers. We obtained 40 haplotypes. The haplotype discrimination capacity was 0.20. The most frequent haplotype was presented in 38 samples. A total of 4 different haplogroups were established. Haplogroup K= 19%, IJ = 7%, R1a1 = 59% and R1b = 15%. The HD value of Y-SNPs/Y-STRs was 0.9883.

[Application of Y-SNPs in forensic genetics]. / Zastosowanie Y-SNPs w genetyce sadowej.

The study presents the results obtained by LightSNiP method with the use of 2 SNPs located on Y chromosome. The purpose of this study was examination of the mixture of the genetic material in the form of male and female blood in different dilutions. The size of available STR-PCR markers is between 100 and 500 bp, which can limit the possibility of DNA mixture analysis, where the amount of male DNA is relatively low or the genetic material is markedly degraded. Selection of appropriate SNPs placed on Y chromosome can provide information that will facilitate interpretation of the female and male DNA mixture. The test was performed on a Light Cycler 2.0, Roche Diagnostic.

[DNA studies performed on a mummified body from Forensic Department Museum of Poznan University of Medical Sciences]. / Badania DNA zmumifikowanych zwlok z muzeum Katedry i Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu.

The article presents the results of experimental DNA examinations of a mummified body, which is kept in the Forensic Department Museum of Poznan University of Medical Sciences. The DNA analysis determined the gender of the mummy as male; the body was found to belong to the Y-chromosome haplogroups R1b and J2. The age of the mummified body was estimated by an anthropological examination as approximately 35 years.