Forensic Genetics Laboratory - Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Forensic Genetics Laboratory - Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2024 Jan;68:102971. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102971. Epub 2023 Oct 24.
Cannabis sativa can be classified in two main types, according to psychotropic cannabinoid ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) content: the drug-type and the fiber-type. According to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, most of the European Union countries consider the possession of cannabis, for personal use, a minor offense with possibility of incarceration. Despite of the model of legal supply (i.e., Spanish cannabis clubs, Netherlands coffee shops) or medical use (i.e., Italy), cannabis remains the most used and trafficked illicit plant in the European Union. Differentiating cannabis crops or tracing the biogeographical origin is crucial for law enforcement purposes. Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers may assist to determine biogeographic origin and to differentiate hemp from marijuana. This research aims: to identify and to evaluate nine C. sativa cpDNA polymorphic SNP sites to differentiate crop type and to provide information about its biogeographical origin. Five SNaPshot™ assays for nine chloroplast markers were developed and conducted in marijuana samples seized in Chile, the USA-Mexico border and Spain, and hemp samples grown in Spain and in Italy. The SNapShot™ assays were tested on 122 cannabis samples, which included 16 blind samples, and were able to differentiate marijuana crop type from hemp crop type in all samples. Using phylogenetic analysis, genetic differences were observed between marijuana and hemp samples. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) supported the relationship among hemp samples, as well as for USA-Mexico border, Spanish, and Chilean marijuana samples. Genetic differences between groups based on the biogeographical origin and their crop type were observed. Increasing the number of genetic markers, including the most recently studied ones, and expanding the sample database will provide more accurate information about crop differentiation and biogeographical origin.
大麻可以根据精神活性大麻素 ∆9-四氢大麻酚（∆9-THC）的含量分为两种主要类型：毒品型和纤维型。根据欧洲毒品和毒瘾监测中心的数据，大多数欧盟国家认为持有大麻供个人使用是一种轻微犯罪，可判处监禁。尽管存在合法供应模式（例如西班牙大麻俱乐部、荷兰咖啡店）或医疗用途（例如意大利），大麻仍然是欧盟使用和贩运最多的非法植物。区分大麻作物或追踪其生物地理起源对于执法目的至关重要。叶绿体 DNA（cpDNA）标记可用于确定生物地理起源并区分大麻和大麻。本研究旨在：识别和评估九个 C. sativa cpDNA 多态 SNP 位点，以区分作物类型并提供有关其生物地理起源的信息。开发了五个用于九个叶绿体标记的 SNaPshot™ 测定法，并在智利、美国-墨西哥边境和西班牙缴获的大麻样本以及在西班牙和意大利种植的大麻样本中进行了测试。SNapShot™ 测定法在 122 个大麻样本上进行了测试，其中包括 16 个盲样，能够在所有样本中区分大麻作物类型和大麻作物类型。使用系统发育分析观察到大麻和大麻样本之间存在遗传差异。此外，主成分分析（PCA）支持大麻样本之间的关系，以及美国-墨西哥边境、西班牙和智利大麻样本之间的关系。基于生物地理起源和作物类型观察到群体之间的遗传差异。增加包括最近研究的遗传标记数量并扩大样本数据库将提供有关作物分化和生物地理起源的更准确信息。
