Aged fingerprints for DNA profile: First report of successful typing

Carlo Giovanni Romano; Rosaria Mangiaracina; Luigi Donato; Rosalia D'Angelo; Concetta Scimone; Antonina Sidoti

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109905

Aged fingerprints for DNA profile: First report of successful typing

Forensic Sci Int. 2019 Sep:302:109905. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109905. Epub 2019 Jul 31.

Authors

Carlo Giovanni Romano¹, Rosaria Mangiaracina², Luigi Donato³, Rosalia D'Angelo⁴, Concetta Scimone⁵, Antonina Sidoti⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Scientific Investigation (R.I.S.), Division of Biology, Carabinieri, Monsignor D'Arrigo street 5, 98121, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: carlo.romano@carabinieri.it.
² Department of Scientific Investigation (R.I.S.), Division of Biology, Carabinieri, Monsignor D'Arrigo street 5, 98121, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: rosaria.mangiaracina@carabinieri.it.
³ Department of Biomedical and Dental Science and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Consolare Valeria Street 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; Department of Vanguard Medicine and Therapies, Biomolecular Strategies and Neuroscience, I.E.ME.S.T., Michele Miraglia Street 20, 90139 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: ldonato@unime.it.
⁴ Department of Biomedical and Dental Science and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Consolare Valeria Street 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; Department of Vanguard Medicine and Therapies, Biomolecular Strategies and Neuroscience, I.E.ME.S.T., Michele Miraglia Street 20, 90139 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: rdangelo@unime.it.
⁵ Department of Biomedical and Dental Science and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Consolare Valeria Street 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; Department of Vanguard Medicine and Therapies, Biomolecular Strategies and Neuroscience, I.E.ME.S.T., Michele Miraglia Street 20, 90139 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: cscimone@unime.it.
⁶ Department of Biomedical and Dental Science and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Consolare Valeria Street 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; Department of Vanguard Medicine and Therapies, Biomolecular Strategies and Neuroscience, I.E.ME.S.T., Michele Miraglia Street 20, 90139 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: asidoti@unime.it.

PMID: 31394460
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109905

Abstract

Fingerprint detection and Short Tandem Repeat (STR) typing are two approaches used for identification of individuals. The main goal of forensic laboratories is the development of a standardized protocol to obtain an STR profile from latent fingerprints, by typing the DNA transferred onto touched objects. The results obtained in this field derive from studies conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. Here, for the first time, we report two different profiles obtained by DNA purified by latent fingerprints enhanced with dactyloscopic powders at a crime scene, 14 years previously. DNA extraction phase was optimized to improve removal of powder and automatically conducted. Despite the low concentration of purified DNA, it was not degraded. Even if quality of the profile is influenced by several factors such as the method of acquisition and storage conditions of the fingerprint, results obtained are adequately informative and could be uploaded to the CODIS database.

Keywords: Dactyloscopic powder; Fingerprint; Genotyping; Short tandem repeat.

MeSH terms

DNA / isolation & purification*
DNA Fingerprinting / methods*
Dermatoglyphics*
Electrophoresis, Capillary
Humans
Microsatellite Repeats*
Powders
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Regression Analysis
Specimen Handling / methods

Substances

Powders
DNA