Original scientific paper

Identification of Skeletal Remains of Communist Armed Forces Victims During and After World War II: Combined Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat (STR) and MiniSTR Approach

Damir Marjanović ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Adaleta Durmić-Pašić ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lejla Kovačević ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jasna Avdić ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mirela Džehverović ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sanin Haverić ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jasmin Ramić ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Belma Kalamujić ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lada Lukić Bilela ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vedrana Škaro ; Genos d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia
Petar Projić ; Genos d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia
Kasim Bajrović ; Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Katja Drobnič ; Faculty for Justice and Security, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jon Davoren ; Bode Technology, Lorton, VA, USA
Dragan Primorac ; Medical School, Split University, Split, Croatia

Abstract

Aim To report on the use of STR, Y-STRs, and miniSTRs typing methods
in the identification of victims of revolutionary violence and
crimes against humanity committed by the Communist Armed
Forces during and after World War II in which bodies were exhumed
from mass and individual graves in Slovenia.
Methods Bone fragments and teeth were removed from human remains
found in several small and closely located hidden mass graves
in the Škofja Loka area (Lovrenska Grapa and Žolšče) and 2 individual
graves in the Ljubljana area (Podlipoglav), Slovenia. DNA was isolated
using the Qiagen DNA extraction procedure optimized for bone
and teeth. Some DNA extracts required additional purification, such
as N-buthanol treatment. The QuantifilerTM Human DNA Quantification
Kit was used for DNA quantification. Initially, PowerPlex 16 kit
was used to simultaneously analyze 15 short tandem repeat (STR)
loci. The PowerPlex S5 miniSTR kit and AmpFSTR® MiniFiler PCR Amplification
Kit was used for additional analysis if preliminary analysis
yielded weak partial or no profiles at all. In 2 cases, when the PowerPlex
16 profiles indicated possible relatedness of the remains with
reference samples, but there were insufficient probabilities to call
the match to possible male paternal relatives, we resorted to an additional
analysis of Y-STR markers. PowerPlex® Y System was used to
simultaneously amplify 12 Y-STR loci. Fragment analysis was performed
on an ABI PRISM 310 genetic analyzer. Matching probabilities
were estimated using the DNA-View software.
Results Following the Y-STR analysis, 1 of the “weak matches” previously
obtained based on autosomal loci, was confirmed while the
other 1 was not. Combined standard STR and miniSTR approach applied
to bone samples from 2 individual graves resulted in positive
identifications. Finally, using the same approach on 11 bone samples
from hidden mass grave Žološče, we were able to obtain 6 useful
DNA profiles.
Conclusion The results of this study, in combination with previously
obtained results, demonstrate that Y-chromosome testing and miniSTR
methodology can contribute to the identification of human remains
of victims of revolutionary violence from World War II.

Keywords

Y-STR; miniSTR; DNA identification; mass graves; skeletal remains; World War II

Hrčak ID:

40682

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/40682

Publication date:

15.6.2009.

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