Using STR Analysis to Detect Human DNA from Exploded Pipe Bomb Devices

Volume 49, Issue 3 (May 2004)

Click here to download this paper now for $25 PDF (70K)

View License Agreement

ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 10 March 2004
Page Count: 4

Using STR Analysis to Detect Human DNA from Exploded Pipe Bomb Devices
Spillane, H
Forensic Scientist, Michigan State Police, Northville Crime Laboratory, MI

Siegel, JA
Professor of Forensic Science and Associate Director, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University,

Esslinger, KJ
Forensic Scientist, Illinois State Police, Forensic Science Center at Chicago, IL

Stallworth, S
State Police Specialist, Michigan State Police, Northville Crime Laboratory, MI

(Received 8 April 2003; accepted 10 January 2004)

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of recovering a bomb assembler's DNA from an exploded pipe bomb device. Metal and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes were examined to determine if one surface type would allow better DNA recovery than the other. Ten subjects each handled components of one metal and one PVC pipe bomb. The bombs were exploded, the fragments were collected and swabbed using the double swab technique, and the samples were extracted, quantified, amplified, and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction/short tandem repeat (PCR/STR). Of the 20 bombs handled by the subjects, four bombs gave reportable results that matched the subject's known DNA profiles. An additional eight profiles, also matching the subject's known DNA profiles, were generated but were below the reportable threshold. There was no difference in the success rate of obtaining DNA profiles related to the use of either PVC or metal in the manufacture of the pipe bomb. The variables that appeared to have the greatest influence on the success of generating a DNA profile were the amount of fragmentation and subsequent recovery of the bomb fragments. It is suspected that successful DNA profiling could also be dependent upon the bomb assembler's propensity to slough skin cells on objects they handled.

Keywords:
forensic science, STR, DNA, pipe bombs, explosives

Paper ID: JFS2003127
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003127
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

Author Title Using STR Analysis to Detect Human DNA from Exploded Pipe Bomb Devices Symposium , 0000-00-00 Committee E30

		SEDL / Journals / Journal of Forensic Sciences (JOFS) / Citation Page Volume 49, Issue 3 (May 2004) Click here to download this paper now for $25 PDF (70K) View License Agreement ISSN: 0022-1198 CODEN: JFSCA Published Online: 10 March 2004 Page Count: 4 Using STR Analysis to Detect Human DNA from Exploded Pipe Bomb Devices Spillane, H Forensic Scientist, Michigan State Police, Northville Crime Laboratory, MI Siegel, JA Professor of Forensic Science and Associate Director, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, Esslinger, KJ Forensic Scientist, Illinois State Police, Forensic Science Center at Chicago, IL Stallworth, S State Police Specialist, Michigan State Police, Northville Crime Laboratory, MI (Received 8 April 2003; accepted 10 January 2004) Abstract This study investigated the possibility of recovering a bomb assembler's DNA from an exploded pipe bomb device. Metal and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes were examined to determine if one surface type would allow better DNA recovery than the other. Ten subjects each handled components of one metal and one PVC pipe bomb. The bombs were exploded, the fragments were collected and swabbed using the double swab technique, and the samples were extracted, quantified, amplified, and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction/short tandem repeat (PCR/STR). Of the 20 bombs handled by the subjects, four bombs gave reportable results that matched the subject's known DNA profiles. An additional eight profiles, also matching the subject's known DNA profiles, were generated but were below the reportable threshold. There was no difference in the success rate of obtaining DNA profiles related to the use of either PVC or metal in the manufacture of the pipe bomb. The variables that appeared to have the greatest influence on the success of generating a DNA profile were the amount of fragmentation and subsequent recovery of the bomb fragments. It is suspected that successful DNA profiling could also be dependent upon the bomb assembler's propensity to slough skin cells on objects they handled. Keywords: forensic science, STR, DNA, pipe bombs, explosives Paper ID: JFS2003127 DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003127 ASTM International is a member of CrossRef. Author Title Using STR Analysis to Detect Human DNA from Exploded Pipe Bomb Devices Symposium , 0000-00-00 Committee E30