Reliable Human Identification from Single Rootless Hairs

Reliable Human Identification from Single Rootless Hairs

A wide variety of DNA-containing samples have been used for forensic purposes. Despite its common occurrence at crime scenes and with unidentified remains, rootless hair is generally considered a poor source of DNA for forensic analysis.

 

We present the results of (1) a comprehensive survey of the amount and characteristics of fragmented DNA present in rootless hair from a large panel of human subjects, (2) a genotype calling strategy designed for the DNA information available from single rootless hairs, enabling forensic genetic genealogy from single rootless hairs, and (3) a technique for comparing the genetic information from a single hair to DNA obtained from a suspect. This technique is capable of confirming or rejecting if the suspect matches the hair with P-values greater than what is obtainable by traditional STR-markers, using samples that are insufficient for PCR-based STR-typing.

 

We will demonstrate how this approach has been applied in casework allowing the DNA from a single crime-scene hair to identify a suspect using forensic genetic genealogy and test the suspect’s DNA via direct comparison to the hair DNA. We will also discuss technical limitations and other important caveats.

 

A wide variety of DNA-containing samples have been used for forensic purposes. Despite its common occurrence at crime scenes and with unidentified remains, rootless hair is generally considered a poor source of DNA for forensic analysis.

 

We present the results of (1) a comprehensive survey of the amount and characteristics of fragmented DNA present in rootless hair from a large panel of human subjects, (2) a genotype calling strategy designed for the DNA information available from single rootless hairs, enabling forensic genetic genealogy from single rootless hairs, and (3) a technique for comparing the genetic information from a single hair to DNA obtained from a suspect. This technique is capable of confirming or rejecting if the suspect matches the hair with P-values greater than what is obtainable by traditional STR-markers, using samples that are insufficient for PCR-based STR-typing.

 

We will demonstrate how this approach has been applied in casework allowing the DNA from a single crime-scene hair to identify a suspect using forensic genetic genealogy and test the suspect’s DNA via direct comparison to the hair DNA. We will also discuss technical limitations and other important caveats.

 

Workshop currently at capacity. A waitlist is available to join on our registration page.

Brought to you by

Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts

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