title: Fingerprints as evidence for a genetic profile: morphological study on fingerprints and analysis of exogenous and individual factors affecting DNA typing.
abstract: Material recovered from 374 fingerprints left by eleven laboratory workers on three different substrates (glass, wood, metal) at a standard pressure time of 30 s, with and without preliminary handwashing, was submitted to morphological, quantitative, and type analysis. Morphological and agarose-gel electrophoresis analysis showed that a non-negligible amount of epidermal corneal cells presented apoptotic alterations. The quantity of DNA recovered from fingerprints ranged between 0.04 to 0.2 ng, and in a significant number of experiments no DNA was detected. Handwashing reduced the amount of DNA recovered from fingerprints. The "shedder status" of the donor was a very important factor, causing inter-individual variations in the amount of DNA left by fingerprints. Spurious alleles from laboratory-based and secondary transfer contamination, stutters, and other artifacts described when analyzing low-copy-number DNA and capable of affecting correct profiles were observed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università di Ancona, Policlinico Torrette, I-60020 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecati
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesaresi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turchi
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carle
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliabracci
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005898:Glass; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D004247:DNA