NCJ Number
131270
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 1219-1223
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The feasibility of using aborted fetal tissues for parentage determination through DNA typing is examined in 10 rape cases.
Abstract
The fetal material ranged in gestational age from 8 weeks to 5 months. Abortions were performed either by suction for fetuses between 8 and 11 weeks or by treatment with prostaglandins for older fetuses. Tissues used for DNA typing were fetal or maternal cells or both from the aborted material which also included chorionic villus material in two cases. In the older fetuses, the tested tissues also included white blood cells, fetal lung, blood, quadriceps muscle, or rib cells. Following restriction endonuclease digestion with PST1, visual interpretation indicated matching of DNA restriction fragments from the suspect and the fetus. Inclusion of the suspect was confirmed by computer assisted image analysis. In the first case, maternal tissues could not be clearly separated from the fetal tissues, but a comparison of the fetal-maternal sample with the maternal reference sample provided a strong indication of the paternal band. Except for the last one, DNA analysis indicated an overwhelming probability that the suspect contributed the paternal fragment. A conclusion could not be drawn in the last case due to a lack of suspect. These results show that parentage determination through DNA typing of aborted fetal tissue from rape victims is possible. However, technical problems regarding sample size, tissue type, time elapsed after abortion, abortion method, and bacterial contamination may be encountered. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 13 references (Author abstract modified)