CIMINO, M.T.*, L.M. BRINKAC, M.E. HOPKINS, N.A. GROSS, and R.A. BEVER. The Bode Technology Group, Inc., 7364 Steel Mill Drive, Springfield, VA 22150. - Molecular systematic analysis of botanical trace eividence.
Molecular analysis of trace botanical evidence is a developing
forensic discipline. Traditionally, the morphology of plant debris has
been examined for useful forensic data. The composition of a trace
evidence sample may provide leads as to the geographic location or
general environmental conditions of the sample origin. However, the
identification of forensic botanicals is often confounded by the lack
of morphological characters. The use of genetic markers has the
potential to overcome shortcomings associated with traditional
botanical forensics. Depending on the forensic sample's composition, a
single DNA sequence or numerous DNA sequences can be determined from a
single collection of trace evidence. Using sequences in public
databases, taxonomic placement of the sequences determined from the
forensic material is often possible. The distribution and ecology of
the identified taxa can then be used to infer information about the
geographic origin of the forensic evidence.
Key words: botanical forensics, DNA identification, molecular systematics