Journal Published Online: 17 December 2003
Volume 49, Issue 1

A Possible Source of Reference DNA from Archived Treated Adhesive Lifters

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

During the course of a double murder trial, it became apparent that the two adhesive lifters from the two cadavers had been mislabeled before being presented in court. The question was raised whether DNA testing from the biological material remaining attached to the lifters could resolve this mix-up.

In fatal shooting cases where a bullet has been fired through a body surface, an adhesive lifter is applied directly to the entrance wound. The total nitrite residues, as well as biological material surrounding the wound (blood, hair, tissue) are transferred to the adhesive lifter. The nitrite residues are used for estimating firing distance. In a worst-case scenario, the biological material on the lifter may be the only remaining reference material from a victim. In this paper, we examined whether the biological material retrieved from adhesive lifters could be used for DNA typing after the lifters had been treated for GSR pattern. In as much as the biological material found on the lifters can be typed and profiled following physical and chemical treatment, we submit that archived adhesive lifters can be used as a future source of reference DNA from cadavers where no other sample is available.

Author Information

Zamir, A
Forensic Biology Laboratory, Jerusalem, Israel
Oz, C
Forensic Biology Laboratory, Jerusalem, Israel
Wolf, E
Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Jerusalem, Israel
Vinokurov, A
Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Jerusalem, Israel
Glattstein, B
Israel Police, National Headquarters, Jerusalem, Israel
Pages: 3
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS2003005
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003005