Life | Special Issue : New Progress in Forensic Analysis of Animal and Plant Samples

Research

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18 pages, 2671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Tanning Chemical Agents on DNA Degradation: A Robust Procedure for the Analysis of Tanned Animal Hide—A Pilot Study

by Kristyna Hebenstreitova, Ondrej Salaba, Jakub Trubac, Jitka Kufnerova and Daniel Vanek

Life 2024, 14(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14010147 - 19 Jan 2024

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Abstract

Illegal wildlife trade is currently on the rise, and it is becoming one of the most lucrative crime sectors. The rarer the species, the higher the demand. Wildlife trade falls under international regulations, such as the CITES convention. Proving that this convention has [...] Read more.

Illegal wildlife trade is currently on the rise, and it is becoming one of the most lucrative crime sectors. The rarer the species, the higher the demand. Wildlife trade falls under international regulations, such as the CITES convention. Proving that this convention has been violated is a complex process and can be very difficult to do. DNA analysis methods remain (in many cases) the only way to determine whether a certain specimen originated from a protected animal species, a specific individual, or a species in which it is legal to trade. Tanned animal hides are a specific type of specimen. With this type of biological material, obtaining amplifiable DNA is often difficult. This pilot study aimed to map the effect of the chemicals used in the tanning process on the degradation of the DNA yielded from such samples. The DNA was quantified using two different approaches: qPCR and Qubit fluorometry. The degree of DNA fragmentation was assessed by determining the degradation index. The results indicate that reagents containing chromium have the greatest influence on DNA degradation. However, by using the presented protocol, enough amplifiable DNA can be obtained from hides treated with aluminum-based reagents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in Forensic Analysis of Animal and Plant Samples)

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11 pages, 2406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Set of EST-STR Markers for Discrimination of Related Papaver somniferum L. Varieties

by Šarlota Kaňuková, Katarína Ondreičková, Daniel Mihálik and Ján Kraic

Life 2024, 14(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14010072 - 31 Dec 2023

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Abstract

Papaver somniferum L. is cultivated for its edible seeds and for the production of alkaloids. A serious problem in seed trade and processing is the intentional mixing of excellent food-quality seeds with non-food-grade-quality seeds. Tracking the correct or illegitimate handling of seeds requires [...] Read more.

Papaver somniferum L. is cultivated for its edible seeds and for the production of alkaloids. A serious problem in seed trade and processing is the intentional mixing of excellent food-quality seeds with non-food-grade-quality seeds. Tracking the correct or illegitimate handling of seeds requires an efficient method for discrimination and individualization of poppy varieties. As in human and animal forensics, DNA variable regions containing short tandem repeats (STRs) located either in non-coding DNA or in gene sequences (EST-STRs) are preferred markers for discrimination between genotypes. Primers designed for 10 poppy EST-STR loci not analyzed so far were tested for their discriminatory ability on a set of 23 related P. somniferum L. genotypes. Thirty-three EST-STR alleles were identified together. Their polymorphic information content (PIC) values were in the range of 0.175–0.649. The PI value varied in the range of 0.140–0.669, and the cumulative PI was 1.2 × 10⁻⁵. PI_sibs values varied between 0.436 and 0.820 and the cumulative value was lower (5.0 × 10⁻³). All analyzed genotypes were distinguished mutually, each with its own unique EST-STR profile. These newly developed EST-STR markers more effectively discriminated P. somniferum L. genotypes, even those genotypes whose DNA profiles were previously identical. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in Forensic Analysis of Animal and Plant Samples)

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Review

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10 pages, 5543 KiB

Open AccessReview

From Galls to Cecidological Herbaria: The Role of Gall Collections in Modern Life Sciences

by Mauro Mandrioli, Luca Tonetti, Tiziana Beltrame and Elena Canadelli

Life 2024, 14(4), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14040452 - 29 Mar 2024

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Abstract

Galls (also known as cecidia) have been studied by botanists, zoologists and microbiologists over the last century. Indeed, galls can be induced by different animals, bacteria, viruses and fungi, so that their presence simultaneously attested the presence of specific host plants and gall-inducing [...] Read more.

Galls (also known as cecidia) have been studied by botanists, zoologists and microbiologists over the last century. Indeed, galls can be induced by different animals, bacteria, viruses and fungi, so that their presence simultaneously attested the presence of specific host plants and gall-inducing species. Consequently, gall collections, also known as cecidological herbaria or cecidological collections, can be interesting to study biodiversity changes over time. This review describes the main cecidological collections currently available in different European museums in order to stimulate their future study. The present analysis suggests that well-organized and preserved cecidological collections have great potential to guide research in taxonomy and systematics. Furthermore, this review aims to encourage future research on the conservation and digitisation standards of gall specimens in order to make cecidological data more accessible to researchers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in Forensic Analysis of Animal and Plant Samples)

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