The potential of leathery cadaveric skin for DNA extraction and typing

Introduction When a corpse in found in a leathery state, mummified or partially skeletonized, bones and teeth are the gold standard material for DNA extraction [1]. Vice versa the skin, even if it is one of the most resistant tissue of the body, is not considered as a suitable material for DNA analyses. Starting from these considerations, we decided to evaluate the presence of nuclear chromatin (and therefore DNA) in leathery and mummified skin samples, stained with Lillie’s method. Material and methods We collected skin samples from 32 corpses with a PMI between 4h and 17y and we stained them with Lillie’s Method. The corpses were in different state of post mortal transformations like mummification, saponification, partial skeletonization and leathery transformation. Results Only samples taken from corpses with a PMI between 4h and 5y display nuclear chromatin. No chromatin was found in the other samples. Discussion Nuclear material was preserved in skin samples taken from corpses even with a 5year PMI that underwent mummification or partial skeletonization. No chromatin was found in the other samples which underwent wet type of post-mortem transformation like saponification. These results suggest that skin samples, even from deteriorated cadavers, can show nuclear chromatin. This could be a good indicator of the presence of DNA suitable for extraction and typing, thus making the DNA extraction procedure easier than that performed on bones and teeth. References S. Andelinovic et al., Croat Med J 46:530–539. (2005)