Assessment and In Vitro Repair of Damaged DNA Templates in Biological Stains

The aims of this project are to ascertain the types of DNA damage encountered in forensically relevant stains and to attempt to repair such damage by means of in vitro DNA repair systems. The study focuses on the detection of damage caused by exogenous, environmental sources, primarily UV radiation, but also factor of humidity, on forensically relevant stains. These experiments are expected to aid in ascertaining the types, and effects, of damage encountered in stains stored under various laboratory conditions and should contribute to the debate of optimal storage conditions for biological stains in operational forensic laboratories.

The ability to detect DNA polymorphisms using molecular genetic techniques has revolutionized the forensic analysis of biological evidence. DNA typing now plays a critical role within the criminal justice system. However, one of the limiting factors with the technology is that sometimes DNA isolated from physiological stains recovered from the crime scene is so damaged as to be intractable to analysis. However, current knowledge of the biochemical nature and extent of the DNA damage in biological stains of forensic importance is rudimentary. As part of a long term project to ascertain and quantify the types of DNA damage encountered in forensically relevant stains that have been subjected to a variety of environmental insults we have undertaken an evaluation of UV induced damage in DNA using lesion specific nucleases. We have concentrated our initial efforts on the assessment of UV-induced DNA damage since sunlight is a common environmental insult encountered in forensic analysis and the biochemistry of UV-induced DNA damage and repair in model systems is well characterized.

For More Information

Jack Ballantyne
Department of Chemistry, CH 117
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL 32816
Telephone: 407-823-0163
FAX: 407-823-2252
E-Mail: jballant@mail.ucf.edu