Agriculture and Natural Resources, Institute of (IANR)
Forensic Science: Faculty and Staff Publications
Date of this Version
2023
Document Type
Article
Citation
MDPI Genes (2023) 14: 1405
doi: 10.3390/genes14051045
Academic editors: Erin K. Hanson and Claire L. Glynn
Abstract
Submerged items are often thought to lack evidentiary value. However, previous studies have shown the ability to recover DNA from submerged porous items for upwards of six weeks. The crevices or interweaving fibers in porous items are thought to protect DNA from being washed away. It is hypothesized that, because non-porous surfaces do not have the same traits that might aid in DNA retention, then DNA quantities and the number of donor alleles recovered would decrease over longer submersion periods. Additionally, it is hypothesized that DNA quantity and the number of alleles would be negatively affected by flow conditions. Neat saliva of known DNA quantity was applied to glass slides and exposed to stagnant and flowing spring water to observe the effects on both DNA quantity and STR detection. Results supported that DNA deposited onto glass and subsequently submerged in water experienced a decrease in DNA quantity over time, yet submersion did not have as strong of a negative effect on the detected amplification product. Additionally, an increase in DNA quantity and detected amplification product from designated blank slides (no initial DNA added) could indicate the possibility of DNA transfer.
Included in
Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Forensic Science and Technology Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons
Comments
Copyright 2023, the authors. Open access material
License: CC BY 4.0