Capabilities of Forensic Molecular Genetic Analysis in Establishing the Taxonomic Affiliation of Objects of Plant Origin
https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2021-2-97-104
Abstract
The control over the circulation of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances (or their precursors) is one of the most critical aspects of the fight against drug crime. The forensic botanical examination uses classical morphological and anatomical analysis methods, which are not always informative enough when identifying species membership of shredded and degraded plant objects; similarly, they do not allow to establish their individual-specific identity. The molecular genetic methods of plant analysis and the comparative databases could serve as valuable tools for law enforcement purposes. In particular, in the production of forensic molecular genetic analysis of narcotic plants presented in powder, it is crucial to determine the taxonomic affiliation of the objects since this information affects the qualification of the crime. As a case the author presents the materials of an additional forensic examination conducted in the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the results of which had a significant impact on the qualification of the committed offense.
About the Authors
G. G. Omel'yanyuk
The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University); Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Omel’yanyuk Georgii Georgievich – Doctor of Law, Candidate of Biology, Associate Professor, Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Russian Ministry of Justice, Professor of the Department of Forensic Operations, Institute of Law, RUDN University; Professor of the Digital Forensics Department of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Moscow 109028
Moscow 117198
Moscow 105055
O. B. Gradusova
The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Gradusova Ol’ga Borisovna – Head of the Laboratory of Forensic Biology and Soil Analysis
Moscow 109028
I. V. Storozhenko
The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Storozhenko Irina Vladilenovna – Candidate of Biology, Leading Researcher of the Department of Innovations in Forensic Activities
Moscow 109028
A. A. Rybakova
The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Rybakova Anna Anatol’evna – Leading Researcher of the Department of Innovations in Forensic Activities
Moscow 109028
References
1. Linacre A., Gusm o L., Hecht W., Hellmann A.P., Mayr W.R., Parson W., Prinz M., Schneider P.M., Morling N. ISFG: Recommendations Regarding the Use of Non-Human (Animal) DNA in Forensic Genetic Investigations. Forensic Science International: Genetics. 2011. Vol. 5. No. 5. P. 501–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2010.10.017
2. Smirnova S.A., Omel’yanyuk G.G., Gulevskaya V.V., Perfilova T.V., Nikulina M.V. Wildlife Forensics: Current State and Development Perspectives in the Russian Federation. Theory and Practice of Forensic Science. 2020. Vol. 15. No. 1. P. 84–93. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2020-1-84-93
3. Smirnova S.A., Omel’yanyuk G.G., Storozhenko I.V., Rybakova A.A., Gulevskaya V.V. Forensic Molecular-Genetic Analysis of Objects of Biological Origin – a New Direction of Forensic Activity of the Russian Ministry of Justice. Theory and Practice of Forensic Science. 2021. Vol. 16. No. 1. P. 6–18. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2021-1-6-18
4. Parfenchyk M.S. Prospects of Molecular Markers Use in Forensic Botany. Forensic Examination of Belarus. 2018. No. 1 (6). P. 71–74. (In Russ.).
5. Omel’yanyuk G.G. The Forensic Examination of the Wildlife Flora and Fauna Objects. Moscow: Sputnik+, 2017. 103 p. (In Russ.).
6. Gulevskaya V.V. Current State and Trends in the Development of Wildlife Forensic Examination. Judge. 2015. No. 9. P. 38–40. (In Russ.).
7. Coyle H.M. (ed). Forensic Botany: Principles and Applications to Criminal Casework. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2005. XVIII. 239 p.
8. Coyle H.M, Ladd C., Palmbach T., Lee H.C. The Green Revolution: Botanical Contributions to Forensic and Drug Enforcement. Croatian Medical Journal. 2001. Vol. 42. No. 3. P. 340–345.
9. Galinskaya T.V., Schepetov D.M., Lysenkov S.N. Prejudices against Microsatellite Studies and How to Resist Them. Russian Journal of Genetics. 2019. Vol. 55. No. 6. P. 657–671. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795419060048
10. Coyle H.M. Forensic Botany: Evidence and Analysis. Forensic Science Review. 2009. No. 21. P. 15–24.
11. Enan M.R. DNA Barcoding in Forensic Botany. In: Trivedi S., Rehman H., Saggu Sh., Panneerselvam Ch., Chosh S.K. (Eds.). DNA Barcoding and Molecular Phylogeny. Cham: Springer, 2018. P. 143–161.
12. Yamamuro T., Segawa H., Kuwayama K., Tsujikawa K., Kanamori T., Iwata Y.T. Rapid Identification of Drug-Type and Fiber-Type Cannabis by Allele Specific Duplex PCR. Forensic Science International. 2021. Vol. 318. 110634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110634
13. Coyle H.M., Shutler G., Abrams Sh., Hanniman J., Neylon S., Ladd C., Palmbach T., Lee H.C. A Simple DNA Extraction Method for Marijuana Samples Used in Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) Analysis. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2003. No. 48. No. 2. P. 343–347. https://doi.org/10.1520/jfs2001207
14. Coyle H.M., Palmbach T., Juliano N., Ladd C., Lee H.C. An Overview of DNA Methods for the Identification and Individualization of Marijuana. Croatian Medical Journal. 2003. Vol. 44. No. 3. P. 315–321.
15. Borodinov A.G., Manoilov V.V., Zarutsky I.V., Petrov A.I., Kurochkin V.E. Generations of DNA Sequencing Methods (Review). Nauchnoe Priborostroenie. 2020. Vol. 30. No. 4. P. 3–20. (In Rus)
Review
For citations:
Omel'yanyuk G.G., Gradusova O.B., Storozhenko I.V., Rybakova A.A. Capabilities of Forensic Molecular Genetic Analysis in Establishing the Taxonomic Affiliation of Objects of Plant Origin. Theory and Practice of Forensic Science. 2021;16(2):97-104. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2021-2-97-104
Views:
702
Email this article 