Critique: measuring hydrogen stable isotope abundance of proteins to infer origins of wildlife, food and people. (April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meier-Augenstein, Wolfram; Hobson, Keith A; Wassenaar, Leonard I
• Is Part Of: Bioanalysis. Volume 5:Number 7(2013)
• Page Start: 751
• Page End: 767
• Publication Date: 2013-04
• Subjects: Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; 615.19005
• DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.36
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-6180

Abstract

Measurement of the relative abundance of 2 H (expressed in δ 2 H values) in tissues of plants, wildlife and people has evolved into a powerful forensic tool. The approach is based on the strong linkage between spatial patterns of δ 2 H values in precipitation at local and continental scales, and the tissues of plants and animals produced on these 'isoscapes'. Unfortunately, despite this exciting potential, difficulties inherent in the measurement of δ 2 H values in complex organic materials such as proteins, as well as the accuracy of such measurements, and a reluctance to adopt strict quality assurance/QC approaches to address challenges associated with these measurements, has clearly limited this potential. These challenges are entirely avoidable and techniques now exist for the routine reliable measurement of δ 2 H values in materials of forensic interest that will allow completely comparable data among laboratories.