Molecular Genetic Methods for Forensic Entomology

Abstract

A preservative solution containing formaldehyde should not be used if it can be avoided, as formalin can interact with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), making subsequent molecular analyses difficult. Some forensic entomologists recommend killing maggots by blanching in hot water; this technique does not appear to hinder any subsequent DNA analysis. Maggots found in the absence of a corpse may still have the victim’s tissue in their gut. Such specimens must be killed and preserved immediately, otherwise the evidence may be digested and lost. There is little doubt about the need for accurate specimen identification in forensic entomology. Intraspecific variation in DNA sequence is commonly observed, so an unknown specimen will often not exactly match the genotype of a reference specimen. Ribonucleic acid analysis can reveal the genes that were active within a tissue sample at the time it was processed.