Quantification of trace amounts of human and non-human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using SYBR Green and real time PCR

Shanan S. Tobe, Adrian Linacre

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

There are currently no tests available to quantify total non-human mammalian mtDNA. Standard universal DNA quantification tests are unsuitable due to the large size difference between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and the ubiquity of human mtDNA. A method has therefore been developed to quantify total mammalian mtDNA and total human mtDNA present in a sample using SYBR Green.

Mammalian primers designed to react with all mammals were designed on the 12S and human specific primers were designed on the cytochrome b gene. Each primer set was reacted separately with sample and SYBR Green and detected using RT-PCR. A standard curve was developed using dilutions ranging from 1 billion copies to 100 copies of mtDNA.

Twenty-four human samples were analysed and an average log (copy number) human/universal ratio of 1.00 was obtained. Samples falling below this ratio will contain some non-human mtDNA while samples falling above this ratio contain human mtDNA only.

Twenty-nine mammal samples were also tested. 96.6% of these showed human contamination to some extent. This test is able to quantify mtDNA down to the femtogramme (10E−15g) level.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-73
Number of pages3
JournalForensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2008
Event23rd Congress of the International Society for Forensic Genetics - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Duration: 15 Sept 200918 Sept 2009

Keywords

  • quantification
  • human mtDNA
  • non-human mtDNA
  • human contamination

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Quantification of trace amounts of human and non-human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using SYBR Green and real time PCR'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this