Parentage determination on aborted fetal material through deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling
Ludes, B.P.; Mangin, P.D.; Malicier, D.J.; Chalumeau, A.N.; Chaumont, A.J.
Journal of Forensic Sciences 36(4): 1219-1223
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1198 PMID: 1919479 Document Number: 575691
The feasibility of using DNA typing to identify the probable biological father of the fetus is rape cases was assessed in 10 abortuses, 4 abortions by vacuum aspiration and 6 by prostaglandin. In 2 cases chorionic villus material, and in 6 cases fetal material such as lung, blood, muscle or ribs was used, but in 2 mixed maternal and fetal tissue had to be used. DNA typing was performed by standard techniques using purchased DNA probes (Lifecodes Corp, Valhalla, New York). After visual inspection of matching alleles, results were verified by computer-assisted image analysis. A randomly selected French population of 300 constituted the reference database. In Case 1, maternal and fetal tissue was mixed, but a definite paternal band was evident. In 8 other cases there was strong evidence of paternal DNA bands. In the last case, a paternal band was apparent, but no suspect was available at the time.