DNA profiling of trace evidence--mitigating evidence in a dog biting case.
A young girl was the victim of a severe dog attack. An animal, suspected of having caused the attack, was later impounded for investigation. Microclots of blood, recovered from the dog's fur, were analyzed by STR DNA. Results showed that this blood was not related to the biting. Other forensic evidence--hairs, fibers, and odontology--failed to connect a particular animal to the attack. The implications of these findings for the dog and its owners are discussed as well as other forensic methods for resolving such cases.
Brauner
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P
Forensic Biology Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, Israel Police National HQ, Jerusalem.
Reshef
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A
Gorski
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A
D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*