Jose-Luis Romero

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in a southwest Spain population sample

The Y-chromosome polymorphism of eight STRs (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392; DYS393, DYS385) were studied in 111 unrelated individuals from the population of southwest Spain. The most common haplotype was shared by 3.6% of the sample, while 99 haplotypes were unique. The gene diversity was 0.9977.

A study of Spanish attitudes regarding the custody and use of forensic DNA databases.

One of the issues that has resulted in much disagreement in many countries at different levels concerns the kind of institution that should be given the responsibility of exercising custody over biological samples and the DNA profiles obtained from these samples. In the field of forensic genetics, there is no doubt that the existence of DNA criminal databases benefits the control and investigation of crime. However, certain criticism, supported to a great extent by the particular vision of genetic exceptionalism has been aimed at the ethical and social consequences resulting from the inappropriate use of such databases. In this sense, it was stated that the support of the population was required for those regulations that propose the extension of police powers in the collection and storage of biological samples, as well as their corresponding DNA analyses. Without such backing, such measures may cause society to distrust the nature of the protection afforded by the legal system and be interpreted as interference in the civil liberties and human rights of the individual. We believe that the opinion poll which has been carried out among the Spanish population may serve to reveal the public attitudes/criteria which society has with regard to those institutions responsible for the custody of DNA profile databases. Finally, it must be pointed out that when the interviewees were asked about what institution or institutions should protect and maintain data confidentiality 59.7% considered that custody should remain in the hands of the National Agency for DNA Profiles (a judicially backed, autonomous public institution).

A study on ten short tandem repeat systems: African immigrant and Spanish population data.

This work presents the results obtained from a genetic-population study for the D1S1656 system in the population of Southwest Spain (Huelva, Cádiz and Sevilla), Spaniards of Caucasian origin from North Africa (Ceuta), as well as in the black Central West African and Moroccan immigrant populations in Spain. The results of a study of the autochtonous population of the Canary Islands (n=138), and immigrant Central West African populations in Spain (n=132), obtained for nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D3S1358, VWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820), as well as the amelogenin locus, all contained in Profiler Plus (Perkin-Elmer) PCR amplification kits, are also presented. Except for the FGA and VWA data on immigrant Central West African populations in Spain, no deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected.

A study among the population of Sevilla of death due to submersion.

Death due to submersion is of great interest from the medical-legal point of view, given the increase in nautical activity among children and adults alike over the past number of years. However, the lack of reliable statistical data concerning the impact of this specific form of death in our country must be emphasized. These are the circumstances that have led us to study the incidence of this form of death in a specific area. The population analyzed lived in the city of Sevilla during the period 1967-1993.

Spanish public awareness regarding DNA profile databases in forensic genetics: what type of DNA profiles should be included?

The importance of non-codifying DNA polymorphism for the administration of justice is now well known. In Spain, however, this type of test has given rise to questions in recent years: (a) Should consent be obtained before biological samples are taken from an individual for DNA analysis? (b) Does society perceive these techniques and methods of analysis as being reliable? (c) There appears to be lack of knowledge concerning the basic norms that regulate databases containing private or personal information and the protection that information of this type must be given. This opinion survey and the subsequent analysis of the results in ethical terms may serve to reveal the criteria and the degree of information that society has with regard to DNA databases. In the study, 73.20% (SE 1.12%) of the population surveyed was in favour of specific legislation for computer files in which DNA analysis results for forensic purposes are stored.

Precision of estimating time of death by vitreous potassium — Comparison of various equations

This paper is a study of the precision of estimating the time since death comparing the equations developed by different authors. Our aim is to determine with the maximum degree of accuracy the exact time of death of the individual. We consider that the study has been fully justified by the observed differences in the results obtained from the different equations under study when the concentration of potassium in the vitreous humour was identical.

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in Central-West African immigrant in Spain population sample.

Blood samples were obtained from 103 healthy unrelated blackWest African immigrant population in Spain from different coun-tries situated to the south of the Sahara desert. The DNA was ex-tracted using Chelex 100 protocol as described by Walsh et al. (1). The quantity of recovered DNA was determined using Quan-tiBlot® Human DNA Quantitation Kit (Perkin Elmer). DYS19,DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, and DYS393 were amplified asdescribed by Gusmao et al. (2). The DYS385 amplification con-ditions complied with the methodology described by Schneider etal. (3). The PCR was performed in a Perkin Elmer 9600 thermo-cycler.Allele nomenclature was proposed by Kayser et al. (4) and deKnijff (5) with the exception of the DYS389 locus. The nomencla-ture of this locus was according Gusmao et al. (2).Electrophoresis was carried out on 4% polyacrylamide dena-turing sequencing gels in a 377 automated system (AppliedBiosystems Division/Perkin Elmer). Genotype classification wasdone using Genescan PCR analysis software with Local SouthernMethod and by side-to-side comparison with allelic ladders.These ladders were kindly provided by Dr. Carracedo (Institute ofLegal Medicine of Santiago de Compostela), Dr. P.M. Schneider(Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Mainz, Germany). Haplotype diver-sity was calculated according to Nei (6). Analysis of MolecularVariance (AMOVA) was performed by Markov test using the Ar-lequin software 1.1 (7). Genetic distance matrix between popula-tions were obtained by using the pairwise difference genetic dis-tance.A total of 98 different haplotypes were observed (Table 1), 93 ofthem being unique. The most common haplotype (DYS19: 15,DYS385: 16/16, DYS389I: 10, DYS389II: 28, DYS390: 21, andDYS393: 13) had frequency of 1.94% (h16, h21, h22, h38, andh54). Haplotype diversity for each of the markers is shown in Table1. Haplotype diversity for all seven Y-specific STR loci in Central-West African Immigrant in Spain population was calculated to be0.9990 (standard error: 0.0015).Pairwise haplotype analysis using the population studied andother Iberian andAfrican populations (8,9) shows the valencian (

A population-genetic study of the DYS385 haplotypes in two Spanish populations and the African immigrant population in Spain.

A Population-Genetic Study of the DYS385 Haplotypes in Two Spanish Populations and the African Immigrant Population in Spain

Group-specific component (GC) polymorphism in Cádiz (southern Spain)

SummaryThe genetic polymorphism of group-specific component (GC) was analysed in a sample of 443 healthy unrelated subjects of both sexes resident in the province of Cadiz (Southern Spain). Isoelectric focusing was carried out in polyacrylamide gels followed by staining with coomassie blue R 250. The estimated gene frequencies were as follows: GC* 1S = 0.6185; GC* 1F = 0.1162; GC*2 = 0.2652.ZusammenfassungDer genetische Polymorphismus GC (group-specific component) wurde in einer Stichprobe von 443 gesunden, unverwandten Personen beiderlei Geschlechts aus der Region der Provinz von Cádiz (Südspanien) untersucht. Isoelektrische Fokussierung wurde in Polyacrylamid-Gelen durchgeführtmit nachfolgender Anfärbung mit Coomassie Blau R 250. Die geschätzten Gen-Frequenzen waren wiefolgt: GC1S = 0,6185; GCIF = 0,1162; GC2 – 0,2652.

Polymorphisms of the Enzyme Systems Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyltransferase (GALT) and Esterase D (EsD) in the Province of Cádiz, Southern Spain

Galactose-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) and esterase D (EsD) phenotypes were determined by isoelectric focusing in ultrathin-layer polyacrylamide gel (PAGIF) for 406 healthy subjects randomly chosen and residing in the province of Cádiz, in Southern Spain. The following gene frequencies were observed: for GALT, GALT1 = 0.952 970 3 and GALT2 = 0.047 029 71; for EsD, EsD1 = 0.895 320 2, EsD2 = 0.094 827 59, and EsD5 = 0.009 852 21.