"YFlag" – A Single‐base Extension Primer Based Method for Gender Determination. Issue 1 (30th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allwood, Julia S.; Harbison, Sally Ann
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic sciences. Volume 60:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 146
• Publication Date: 2014-10-30
• Subjects: Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1198

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfo12553-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Assigning the gender of a DNA contributor in forensic analysis is typically achieved using the amelogenin test. Occasionally, this test produces false‐positive results due to deletions occurring on the Y chromosome. Here, a four‐marker "YFlag" method is presented to infer gender using single‐base extension primers to flag the presence (or absence) of Y‐chromosome DNA within a sample to supplement forensic STR profiling. This method offers built‐in redundancy, with a single marker being sufficient to detect the presence of male DNA. In a study using 30 male and 30 female individuals, detection of male DNA was achieved with <italic>c</italic>. 0.03 ng of male DNA. All four markers were present in male/female mixture samples despite the presence of excessive female DNA. In summary, the YFlag system offers a method that is reproducible, specific, and sensitive, making it suitable for forensic use to detect male DNA.</p> </abstract>