title: Can lip prints provide biologic evidence?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lip prints are unique and can be used in personal identification. Very few studies are available which establish them as biological evidence in the court of law. Thus, the objective of this study was to attempt to isolate DNA and obtain full short tandem repeat (STR) loci of the individual from the lip prints on different surfaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve lip prints were procured on different surfaces such as tissue paper, cotton cloth, ceramic tile, and glass surface. Latent lip prints were developed using fingerprint black powder. Lipstick-coated lip prints were also collected on the same supporting items. DNA was isolated, quantified, and amplified using Identifiler™ kit to type 15 STR loci.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ample quantity of DNA was extracted from all the lip print impressions and 15 loci were successfully located in seven samples. Fourteen loci were successfully typed in 3 lip impressions while 13 loci were typed in 2 samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study emphasizes the relevance of lip prints at the scene of crime. Extraction of DNA followed by typing of STR loci establishes the lip prints as biological evidence too. Tissue papers, napkins, cups, and glasses may have imprints of the suspect's lips. Thus, the full genetic profile is extremely useful for the forensic team.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: KK Dental Care Centre, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wadhwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
keywords: Biological evidence; DNA isolation; forensic odontology; forensic sciences; latent lip prints; short tandem repeat loci