DNA profiles from fingermarks.
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.
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Jennifer E L
JE
Templeton
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Adrian
A
Linacre
D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
DNA profiling; NGM SElect; Profiler Plus; direct PCR; fingermarks; short tandem repeats