Dale D. Dykes

Glm(f) Immunoblot Procedure

Immunoglobulin allotyping can be valuable for discrimination purposes in the forensic laboratory. Current Gm typing procedures include hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). HAI, the most commonly employed method, has some disadvantages including a high frequency of interferring antibodies as well as being a labor intensive test. The ELISA test method, in microtiter plates, eliminates some of the problems with HAI. A drawback of this system is its technical complexity. To simplify the ELISA technique we have developed a nitrocellulose immunoblot (NIB) procedure.

Identifying DNA RFLP’S in Routine Paternity Cases: Non-Isotopic Methods of Detection

An ever increasing number of polymorphic DNA probes have been reported in the literature. Thus it should be theoretically possible to select from a broad range of probes to be used in cases of disputed parentage. However, the lack of availability of many probes from the commercial sector, the general view that probes must be labeled with isotopes and various technical problems inherent with the techniques have hindered the widespread use of RFLP’s for this application.

Gene Frequency Distribution of F13A and F13B in U.S. Whites, Blacks, Amerindians and Mexican-Americans

Coagulation factor XIII (fibrin stabilizing factor) is the precursor of fibrinoligase and calalyses the cross-linking of fibrin mononers into fibrin polymers. FXIII in plasma consists of two subunits, A and B, with the enzymatic activity residing in the A subunit. The B subunit is thought to act as a carrier and regulator of the A subunit. Genetic polymorphisms of the A and B subunits have been described. Reports on the distribution of these polymorphisms have primarily been restricted to Caucasian and Asian populations.(1–13). For this study we phenotyped local White, Black, Mexican American and Amerindian populations using a technique of isoelectric focusing (IEF) and immunoblotting.

ACP1 Polymorphism: Five New Variants Detected by Multiple Electrophoretic Methods

Human red cell acid phosphatase (ACP1, EC 3.1.3.2) is known to be genetically polymorphic. Three codominant autosomal alleles ACP1*A,B and C were first described by Hopkinson (1963) using differences in electrophoretic mobilities. Other variants published to date include ACP1*D, E, F, G. H, I, K, M, R, GUA-1 and TIC-1. This report describes five new variants identified by both isoelectric focusing and conventional electrophoresis. The new alleles show genetic transmission from family data and are named ACP1*N, P, S, T, and U. Further evidence of an allele with reversed ACP1 A band intensity and a variant with reduced ACP1 C activity are discussed.

Chance of Excluding Paternity by HLA in Men Not Excluded by Other Systems

In our laboratory we routinely test all cases of disputed parentage with a battery of 14 to 16 genetic systems (red cell antigens, serum proteins and red cell enzymes) that in accordance with the AABB Standards for Parentage Testing should exclude 95% of falsely accused men.(1) In selected cases the test battery used is expanded to include several additional systems. The reasons for doing more testing include cases with a PI ⋜ 10 after routine tests are completed, cases with a single indirect exclusion, cases where there is a missing or deceased parent or when two men are tested and neither is excluded. In some cases, despite what appears to be a conclusive result, the court will order more testing. On other occasions we have been asked to justify why more testing is not considered necessary.