Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24991403›Full record

ArticleInvestigative genetics2014

Pet fur or fake fur? A forensic approach.

Elena Pilli, Rosario Casamassima, Stefania Vai, Antonino Virgili, Filippo Barni, Giancarlo D'Errico, Andrea Berti, Giampietro Lago, David Caramelli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Investigative genetics, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Elena PilliDipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, via del Proconsolo 12, 50122 Florence, Italy.
Rosario CasamassimaReparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Roma, Sezione di Chimica, viale Tor di Quinto 119, Rome, Italy.
Stefania VaiDipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, via del Proconsolo 12, 50122 Florence, Italy.
Antonino VirgiliIstituto Superiore di Tecniche Investigative dei Carabinieri, viale Salvo D'Acquisto 2, 00049 Velletri (Roma), Italy.
Filippo BarniReparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Roma, Sezione di Biologia, viale Tor di Quinto 119, Rome, Italy.
Giancarlo D'ErricoReparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Roma, Sezione di Biologia, viale Tor di Quinto 119, Rome, Italy.
Andrea BertiReparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Roma, Sezione di Biologia, viale Tor di Quinto 119, Rome, Italy.
Giampietro LagoReparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Parma, Parco Ducale 3, Parma, Italy.
David CaramelliDipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, via del Proconsolo 12, 50122 Florence, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn forensic science there are many types of crime that involve animals. Therefore, the identification of the species has become an essential investigative tool. The exhibits obtained from such offences are very often a challenge for forensic experts. Indeed, most biological materials are traces, hair or tanned fur. With hair samples, a common forensic approach should proceed from morphological and structural microscopic examination to DNA analysis. However, the microscopy of hair requires a lot of experience and a suitable comparative database to be able to recognize with a high degree of accuracy that a sample comes from a particular species and then to determine whether it is a protected one. DNA analysis offers the best opportunity to answer the question, 'What species is this?' In our work, we analyzed different samples of fur coming from China used to make hats and collars. Initially, the samples were examined under a microscope, then the mitochondrial DNA was tested for species identification. For this purpose, the genetic markers used were the 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA, while the hypervariable segment I of the control region was analyzed afterwards, to determine whether samples belonged to the same individual.

resultsMicroscopic examination showed that the fibres were of animal origin, although it was difficult to determine with a high degree of confidence which species they belonged to and if they came from a protected species. Therefore, DNA analysis was essential to try to clarify the species of these fur samples.

conclusionsMacroscopic and microscopic analysis confirmed the hypothesis regarding the analyzed hair belonging to real animals, although it failed to prove with any kind of certainty which actual family it came from, therefore, the species remains unknown. Sequence data analysis and comparisons with the samples available in GenBank showed that the hair, in most cases, belonged to the Canidae family, and in one case only to Felidae.

Indexed as

Fur samplesHigh degraded samplesMicroscopic analysismtDNASpecies identification

Identifiers

PMID24991403
PMCPMC4079164

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.