The Influence of Selected Fingerprint Enhancement Techniques on Forensic DNA Typing of Epithelial Cells Deposited on Porous Surfaces

Li-Chin Tsai, Cheng-Chang Lee, Chun-Chieh Chen, James Lee, Sheng-Meng Wang, Nu-En Huang, Adrian Linacre, Hsing-Mei Hsieh

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    10 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Fingerprints deposited at crime scene can be a source of DNA. Previous reports on the effects of fingerprint enhancement methods have focused mainly on fingermarks deposited in blood or saliva. Here, we evaluate the effects of fingerprint enhancement methods on fingerprints deposited on porous surfaces. We performed real-time quantification and STR typing, the results of which indicated that two methods (iodine fuming and 1,2-indanedione in ethyl acetate enhancement) had no effect on the quantity of DNA isolated and resultant STR alleles when compared to control samples. DNA quantities and allele numbers were lower for samples enhanced with silver nitrate and 1,2-indanedione in acetic acid when compared to control samples. Based on DNA quantity, quality, and observable stochastic effects, our data indicated that iodine fuming and 1,2-indanedione in ethyl acetate were the preferred options for the enhancement of fingerprints on porous surfaces.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)S221-S225
    Number of pages5
    JournalJournal of Forensic Sciences
    Volume61
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016

    Keywords

    • DNA typing
    • Epithelial cells
    • Fingerprint enhancement
    • Forensic science
    • Porous surfaces
    • Stochastic effects

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