Perspectives on the Analysis and Importance of Touch DNA Samples for Crime Elucidation.

Abstract

Fingerprints are traces found at crime scenes that may be used in forensic analyses to obtain STR profiles from the DNA recovered from them, a technique known as Touch DNA. However, many factors may affect the recovery and quality of these profiles, such as the porosity of the surface on which the DNA was deposited, the environmental conditions to which the sample was exposed, the inherent ability of each individual to donate more or fewer cells (shedder status), the level of DNA degradation, among others. In addition, once collected, Touch DNA samples prove to be challenging, since the processing of minute quantities of genetic material may generate a series of artifacts in the resulting profiles, making it difficult to identify the contributor present in the sample. In a country such as Brazil, however, where crime rates are high, the number of traces of this nature being collected has been increasing, and therefore the need to improve this technique in order to generate more complete profiles and enable correct interpretations becomes evident.

Keywords

DNA de toque
perfil genético
STR
Identificação Humana
Genética forense
Touch DNA
Genetic Profile
STR
Human Identification
Forensic Genetics
ADN de Contacto
Perfil Genético
STR
Identificación Humana
Genética Forense

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