Abstract
Criminal investigations would be considerably improved if DNA profiles could be routinely generated from single fingermarks. Here we report a direct DNA profiling method that was able to generate interpretable profiles from 71% of 170 fingermarks. The data are based on fingermarks from all 5 digits of 34 individuals. DNA was obtained from the fingermarks using a swab moistened with Triton-X, and the fibers were added directly to one of two commercial DNA profiling kits. All profiles were obtained without increasing the number of amplification cycles; therefore, our method is ideally suited for adoption by the forensic science community. We indicate the use of the technique in a criminal case in which a DNA profile was generated from a fingermark on tape that was wrapped around a drug seizure. Our direct DNA profiling approach is rapid and able to generate profiles from touched items when current forensic practices have little chance of success.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 259-266 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Biotechniques |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2014 |
Keywords
- direct PCR
- DNA profiling
- fingermarks
- NGM SElect
- Profiler Plus
- short tandem repeats