Wildlife Forensic Cell: Activities and Development of a Novel approach for Identifying Species from hair using Keratin Protein Profiles

Wildlife Forensic Cell: Activities and development of a novel approach for
identifying species from hair using keratin protein profiles
- S.P. Goyal, Nodal Officer and Vivek Sahajpal, Project Biologist

ABSTRACT

Wildlife Forensic Cell is aimed to develop and standardize protocols for identifying species from various biological materials for controlling illegal trade in wildlife parts and products and provide support to enforcement agencies for proper implementation of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act-1972. During last year, the institute has received 82 wildlife offence cases from different agencies such as Forest (52.4%), Police (20.7%), Court (17.0%) and Ministry of Environment & Forests (9.7%). Most of the cases were of hair/skin (25.6%), meat (30.4%), bone related items (20.7) and others. We have organized workshops and provided inputs on wildlife forensics in courses conducted by different institutes.

Identification of species from hair with help of microscopic studies is a well known technique. However, this technique is questionable where the samples size is small and involves observational biases in characterizing cuticular and medullar patterns. In order to overcome these drawbacks, the findings of microscopy need to be complimented with other techniques like protein or DNA profiles. We have standardized techniques for identifying species from hair based keratin protein profiles. Keratins are proteins found mainly in cuticular derivatives like hair, horn, hoofs, nails, beaks, feathers etc. Keratins have two unique properties viz. they are highly stable and resist degradation by enzymes and other environmental factors and are therfore useful for the purpose of species identification in forensic cases. Protocols for extraction of keratins from hair (Guard and wool) were standardized and the extracted keratins were separated with Sodium dodecyl suphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Presently six species viz. Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hogdsoni), Angora rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus), Pashmina goat (Capra hircus), Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus) and Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) were selected to standardize protocols. The molecular weights of the separated keratins were calculated with Gene Profiler Software and the Statistical anylysis was done with SPSS-8 software. Two to eight bands were observed among these species with molecular weight ranging from 11077.00 to 114512.00 Daltons. Distinct keratin patterns were observed among the six species with high level of reproducibility. We intend to characterize and generate data base of keratin protein profiles of other species protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act-1972.

Project Title	:	Wildlife Forensic Cell.
Investigator(s)	:	Dr. S.P. Goyal
Researcher(s)	:	Vivek Sahajpal, Project Biologist
Funding Agency	:	WII Grant-in-aid