Recovery of DNA from Fingerprints on Enhanced Different Paper Types
Zaghloul NM, Samir T and Megahed HM
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Abstract
Background: Documents are commonly met in threats, kidnapping, and extortion at crime scenes. Perpetrators may handle papers, so that it may contain incriminating evidence. DNA recovery methods from fingerprints on papers are a specific area of interest to law enforcement personnel. Recovery methods, such as swabbing of surfaces, are destructive to fingerprints, so visualization of fingerprint details must occur first to maximize evidence recovery. DNA is possible to recover from fingerprints after enhancement, but the process could interfere with subsequent DNA typing according to DNA quantity, quality, and time lapse after enhancement.
Objective: The study aimed to define which paper type is likely to yield higher DNA recovery from fingerprints following enhancement by standard fingerprint enhancing reagents (Ninhydrin and 1,8-diazafluorene-9-one =DFO). The effect of Ninhydrin and DFO on the recovered DNA was also evaluated.
Method: Various types of paper with deposited fingerprints were processed for DNA extraction and quantification, following standard fingerprint enhancing procedures (Ninhydrin or DFO).
Results: Plain untreated (control) paper showed the highest DNA yield compared to treated different paper types. Magazine paper showed the highest amount of DNA recovery followed by office paper and finally newspapers. Developing fingerprints with DFO or Ninhydrin significantly decreased the yield of DNA from various types of paper. However, the effect of enhancing reagents was different from one paper type to another.
Conclusion: Enhancing methods applied to paper substrates lowered the quantity but did not inhibit successive DNA extraction or quantification. Magazines allowed higher recovery of transferred DNA than office or newspapers. Fingerprints developed with DFO showed slightly higher DNA yield compared to those developed with Ninhydrin on office and newspaper, respectively. Standard latent fingerprint development techniques used on paper were found to have a significant impact on the amount of DNA recovered.
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