Development and implementation of a STR based forensic typing system for moose (Alces alces)

Zijian Sim; Lindsey Monderman; Denise Hildebrand; Thomas Packer; Richard M Jobin

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102536

Development and implementation of a STR based forensic typing system for moose (Alces alces)

Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2021 Jul:53:102536. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102536. Epub 2021 May 24.

Authors

Zijian Sim¹, Lindsey Monderman², Denise Hildebrand³, Thomas Packer², Richard M Jobin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Forensic Unit, Sheriffs Branch, Government of Alberta, 7th Floor, OS Longman Building, 6909-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 4P2; Department of Biological Sciences, Univeristy of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. Electronic address: zijian.sim@gov.ab.ca.
² Forensic Unit, Sheriffs Branch, Government of Alberta, 7th Floor, OS Longman Building, 6909-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 4P2.
³ Molecular Genetics Lab, University of Alberta, 8-33 Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonon, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7.
⁴ Forensic Unit, Sheriffs Branch, Government of Alberta, 7th Floor, OS Longman Building, 6909-116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 4P2; Department of Biological Sciences, Univeristy of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9.

PMID: 34058532
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102536

Abstract

The moose is a highly prized game species in North America and is often the target of illegal harvesting. Forensic DNA analysis can be used to assist in investigations into wildlife crime by providing the link between the illegal incidents and suspects. In this study, we present the development and validation of a short-tandem repeat (STR) based forensic DNA test for the individualization of moose in Alberta and Yukon, Canada. We show that the markers used in the test are appropriate for forensic use and are sufficiently specific to moose. We also demonstrate the limit of detection and quantitation of the moose STR test on the ABI 3500 genetic analyzer. Lastly, we describe the population genetic structure of moose present in our forensic population database and make recommendations regarding the calculation of appropriately conservative forensic statistics.

Keywords: Forensic database; Moose; Short-tandem repeat; Wildlife forensics.

MeSH terms

Alberta
Amelogenin / genetics
Animals
DNA Fingerprinting*
Deer / genetics*
Electrophoresis, Capillary
Genotype
Microsatellite Repeats*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Yukon Territory

Substances

Amelogenin