The Study of the Yield of DNA Extracted From Hairs of Postmortem Cases

Kanchana Sujirachato; Suranan Tirawatnapong; Nurhasnee Mimae; Sirirat Inon; Adisuk Kaewdouengdee; Wisarn Worasuwannarak

doi:10.33165/rmj.2020.43.2.224635

Authors

Kanchana Sujirachato Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Suranan Tirawatnapong Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Nurhasnee Mimae Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Sirirat Inon Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Adisuk Kaewdouengdee Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Wisarn Worasuwannarak Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33165/rmj.2020.43.2.224635

Keywords:

Forensic genetics, DNA yield, DNA extracted from hairs, Phenol/ Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol method, PCR, NanoDrop spectrophotometer

Abstract

Background: Problems frequently occur from hair extraction are low concentration and impurity of DNA.

Objective: To assess the Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol method for extracting DNA from hair roots.

Methods: Hairs from 30 postmortem cases were collected. In each case, 5 and 10 hair roots were extracted DNA by Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol. The amount and purity of DNA (A260/280) were detected by NanoDrop spectrophotometer. The quality of DNA was examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amount of DNA was analyzed compared with gender, age, and manner of death.

Results: The amount and purity of DNA extracted from 10 hair roots were slightly better than 5 hair roots (P > .05). The mean (range) of DNA concentration was 200.4 (35.2 - 799.6) ng/µL from 10 hair roots vs 148.2 (21.7 - 571.5) ng/µL from 5 hair roots in 30 µL volume whereas the mean (range) of A260/280 was 1.61 (1.31 - 1.99) in 10 hair roots vs 1.54 (1.32 - 1.90) in 5 hair roots. The results from NanoDrop showed no difference among various gender, age, and manners of death.

Conclusions: DNA can be extracted from hair by Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol. The quantity and quality of DNA were good enough for personal identification by PCR. DNA extracted from 10 hair roots is better than 5 hair roots.

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