Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing of Cat Hair: an Informative Forensic Tool

Overview

Journal J Forensic Sci

Specialty Forensic Sciences

Date 2010 Nov 17

PMID 21077873

Citations 10

Authors

Christy R Tarditi

Robert A Grahn

Jeffrey J Evans

Jennifer D Kurushima

Leslie A Lyons

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Approximately 81.7 million cats are in 37.5 million U.S. households. Shed fur can be criminal evidence because of transfer to victims, suspects, and/or their belongings. To improve cat hairs as forensic evidence, the mtDNA control region from single hairs, with and without root tags, was sequenced. A dataset of a 402-bp control region segment from 174 random-bred cats representing four U.S. geographic areas was generated to determine the informativeness of the mtDNA region. Thirty-two mtDNA mitotypes were observed ranging in frequencies from 0.6-27%. Four common types occurred in all populations. Low heteroplasmy, 1.7%, was determined. Unique mitotypes were found in 18 individuals, 10.3% of the population studied. The calculated discrimination power implied that 8.3 of 10 randomly selected individuals can be excluded by this region. The genetic characteristics of the region and the generated dataset support the use of this cat mtDNA region in forensic applications.

Citing Articles

Shared alleles and genetic structures in different Thai domestic cat breeds: the possible influence of common racial origins.

Jaito W, Singchat W, Patta C, Thatukan C, Kumnan N, Chalermwong P Genomics Inform. 2024; 22(1):12.

PMID: 39085978 PMC: 11292921. DOI: 10.1186/s44342-024-00013-4.

Forensic genetics and genomics: Much more than just a human affair.

Arenas M, Pereira F, Oliveira M, Pinto N, Lopes A, Gomes V PLoS Genet. 2017; 13(9):e1006960.

PMID: 28934201 PMC: 5608170. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006960.

SNP Miniplexes for Individual Identification of Random-Bred Domestic Cats.

Brooks A, Creighton E, Gandolfi B, Khan R, Grahn R, Lyons L J Forensic Sci. 2016; 61(3):594-606.

PMID: 27122395 PMC: 5019183. DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13026.

Feline mitochondrial DNA sampling for forensic analysis: when enough is enough!.

Grahn R, Alhaddad H, Alves P, Randi E, Waly N, Lyons L Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2014; 16:52-57.

PMID: 25531059 PMC: 4400830. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.11.017.

Acceptance of domestic cat mitochondrial DNA in a criminal proceeding.

Lyons L, Grahn R, Kun T, Netzel L, Wictum E, Halverson J Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2014; 13:61-7.

PMID: 25086413 PMC: 4186908. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.07.007.

References

Savolainen P, Rosen B, Holmberg A, Leitner T, Uhlen M, Lundeberg J . Sequence analysis of domestic dog mitochondrial DNA for forensic use. J Forensic Sci. 1997; 42(4):593-600. View

Anderson S, Bankier A, Barrell B, de Bruijn M, Coulson A, Drouin J . Sequence and organization of the human mitochondrial genome. Nature. 1981; 290(5806):457-65. DOI: 10.1038/290457a0. View

Wilson M, Polanskey D, Butler J, DiZinno J, Replogle J, Budowle B . Extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA from human hair shafts. Biotechniques. 1995; 18(4):662-9. View

David V, OBrien S . Pet cat hair implicates murder suspect. Nature. 1997; 386(6627):774. DOI: 10.1038/386774a0. View

Tamada T, Kurose N, Masuda R . Genetic diversity in domestic cats Felis catus of the Tsushima Islands, based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and control region nucleotide sequences. Zoolog Sci. 2005; 22(6):627-33. DOI: 10.2108/zsj.22.627. View

Brown W, Prager E, Wang A, Wilson A . Mitochondrial DNA sequences of primates: tempo and mode of evolution. J Mol Evol. 1982; 18(4):225-39. DOI: 10.1007/BF01734101. View

Nakaki S, Hino D, Miyoshi M, Nakayama H, Moriyoshi H, Morikawa T . Study of animal species (human, dog and cat) identification using a multiplex single-base primer extension reaction in the cytochrome b gene. Forensic Sci Int. 2007; 173(2-3):97-102. DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.02.010. View

Pfeiffer I, Volkel I, Taubert H, Brenig B . Forensic DNA-typing of dog hair: DNA-extraction and PCR amplification. Forensic Sci Int. 2004; 141(2-3):149-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.01.016. View

Halverson J, Basten C . Forensic DNA identification of animal-derived trace evidence: tools for linking victims and suspects. Croat Med J. 2005; 46(4):598-605. View

10.

Wetton J, Higgs J, Spriggs A, Roney C, Tsang C, Foster A . Mitochondrial profiling of dog hairs. Forensic Sci Int. 2003; 133(3):235-41. DOI: 10.1016/s0379-0738(03)00076-8. View

11.

Andrews R, Kubacka I, Chinnery P, Lightowlers R, Turnbull D, Howell N . Reanalysis and revision of the Cambridge reference sequence for human mitochondrial DNA. Nat Genet. 1999; 23(2):147. DOI: 10.1038/13779. View

12.

Coomber N, David V, OBrien S, Menotti-Raymond M . Validation of a short tandem repeat multiplex typing system for genetic individualization of domestic cat samples. Croat Med J. 2007; 48(4):547-55. PMC: 2080565. View

13.

Bandelt H, Forster P, Rohl A . Median-joining networks for inferring intraspecific phylogenies. Mol Biol Evol. 1999; 16(1):37-48. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a026036. View

14.

Fridez F, Rochat S, COQUOZ R . Individual identification of cats and dogs using mitochondrial DNA tandem repeats?. Sci Justice. 2000; 39(3):167-71. DOI: 10.1016/S1355-0306(99)72042-3. View

15.

Eichmann C, Parson W . Molecular characterization of the canine mitochondrial DNA control region for forensic applications. Int J Legal Med. 2007; 121(5):411-6. DOI: 10.1007/s00414-006-0143-5. View

16.

Hoelzel A, Lopez J, Dover G, OBrien S . Rapid evolution of a heteroplasmic repetitive sequence in the mitochondrial DNA control region of carnivores. J Mol Evol. 1994; 39(2):191-9. DOI: 10.1007/BF00163807. View

17.

Menotti-Raymond M, David V, Stephens J, Lyons L, OBrien S . Genetic individualization of domestic cats using feline STR loci for forensic applications. J Forensic Sci. 1997; 42(6):1039-51. View

18.

Salas A, Bandelt H, Macaulay V, Richards M . Phylogeographic investigations: the role of trees in forensic genetics. Forensic Sci Int. 2006; 168(1):1-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.05.037. View

19.

Vigilant L, Stoneking M, Harpending H, Hawkes K, Wilson A . African populations and the evolution of human mitochondrial DNA. Science. 1991; 253(5027):1503-7. DOI: 10.1126/science.1840702. View

20.

Savolainen P, Lundeberg J . Forensic evidence based on mtDNA from dog and wolf hairs. J Forensic Sci. 1999; 44(1):77-81. View