DNA EVIDENCE

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID
•DNA is your genetic blueprint.
•You inherit it from your biological parents.
•It codes for things like eye color, hair color,
stature, predisposition to some diseases and
many other human traits

SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION
 DNA OVERVIEW
FROM THE WHOLE TO THE MICROSCOPIC PARTS
Diagram of a Typical Cell from Human
Cell & Nucleus: Here we have
a diagram of a typical cell
from the human body. In this
picture you can get a sense of
where the DNA resides in the
cell as well as how it is
organized in the nucleus.
Double-stranded DNA is
organized into chromosomes.
Chromosomes are situated in
the nucleus and the membrane
bound nucleus is found in the
cell.
DNA in the Cell

Target Region for PCR

 Numbers and DNA

Number of cell in human body 100 trillion

Number of Chromosomes 23 pairs
Length of DNA in each cell 2 meters
Size of genome in base pairs 3 billion base pairs
Length of DNA in a person 150 trillion m
Distance from earth to sun 150 billion m
Each person has enough DNA to go to the sun and
back 500 times!!
 STEPS IN DNA ANALYSIS

1. Collection of sample 5. Running of samples for

Visualization

2. Documentation &
Screening 6. Data Interpretation and
Report Making
3. Extraction of DNA
7. Releasing of Report
4. DNA Amplification
 Brief History of Forensic DNA Typing

• 1988 - FBI starts DNA casework

• 1995 - FSS starts UK DNA database
• 1998 - FBI launches CODIS database
• 2001 - PNP opens DNA Lab
 Applications of DNA Analysis

• Criminal Investigations - matching

suspect with evidence
• Parentage Testing -- identifying
parent(s)
• Historical investigations
• Missing persons investigations
• Mass disasters – positive
identification of the deceased
• Military DNA “dog tag”
• Convicted felon DNA databases
DNA ANALYSIS IN CRIME INVESTIGATION

• Each person’s DNA is

different from every
individual’s. Except for
identical twins, DNA
collected from a crime
scene can either link a
suspect to the
evidence or eliminate a
suspect, similar to the
use of fingerprints.
 Where Is DNA Contained in the Human
Body?

• Blood Mucus • Brain

• Semen • Perspiration • Saliva
• Skin cells • Fingernails • Muscles
• Tissue • Urine • Bone
• Organ • Feces • Etc…
SOURCES of BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES:

Muscle tissues Hair

Teeth
Body fluids
- blood
- semen
- saliva Bones
- sweat
- urine
Where can DNA evidence be
found at a crime scene?

Virtually anywhere!

Investigator’s Instinct!
 Why is DNA evidence useful
in criminal investigation?
DNA testing has
become an
established part of
criminal justice
procedures, and the
admissibility of DNA
in court is routine.
 Facts on DNA
• The same DNA is found in all cells of the
body.
• The same DNA profile is recovered, no
matter what the sample (cell) type.
• Your DNA does not change through your
life.
• Any cellular material left at a crime
scene may be a useful source of DNA
 Physical vs Biological Evidence
• Physical evidence is any
tangible object that can
connect an offender to a
crime scene. Biological
evidence, which contains
DNA, is a type of physical
evidence. However,
biological evidence is not
always visible to the naked
eye.
How is DNA evidence works?
In this example, the pattern of the evidence specimen
matches that of suspect number one.
 SEARCH FOR DNA EVIDENCE

• DNA Evidence is Transfer Evidence

• DNA Evidence is Trace Evidence.

 DNA Evidence is Transfer Evidence
Evidence Possible Location of Sources of DNA
DNA evidence
Baseball bat or Handle, end Sweat, skin, blood
similar weapon
•
Hat, bandanna, Inside Sweat, hair, dandruff
mask
Facial tissue, Surface area Mucus, blood, sweat,
cotton swab semen, ear wax
Dirty laundry Surface area Blood, sweat, semen
toothpick Surface area Saliva, blood
Fingernail, partial scrapings Blood, sweat, tissue
fingernail
Through and Outside surface Blood, tissue
through bullet
eyeglasses Nose or ear pieces, lens Sweat, skin
 DNA Evidence is Transfer Evidence
Evidence Possible Location of Sources of DNA
DNA evidence
Used cigarette Cigarette butt Saliva
•
Stamp or envelop Licked area Saliva

Tape or ligature Inside /outside surface Skin, sweat

Bottle, can, or Side, mouthpiece Saliva, sweat,
glasses
Bite mark Person’s skin or clothing saliva
Used condom Inside/outside surface Semen, vaginal or rectal
cells
Blanket, pillow, Surface area Sweat, hair, semen, urine,
sheet saliva
 tissue fingernails

cigarette butt
Broken window
 DNA Evidence is Trace Evidence
Evidence such as hair, fiber,
body fluids, are types of
physical evidence that is
small and transient, but
measurable. When larger
items of physical evidence are
subjected to closer
examination in the
laboratory, trace evidence
may be detected.
DNA Evidence Collection
And
Preservation
 Collection Priority
• The first Priority are trace
materials and evidence of a
fragile nature.
• The second priority would be to
collect swabs from handled
items that have been moved,
are out of place or do not
belong to the resident.
• A third priority type of
evidence that may be at the
scene includes the potentially
lower-quality biological
evidence.
 COLLECTION OF DNA EVIDENCE

“As a general rule – air dry

any sample taken. If it is in the
form of tissues, either freeze or
soak in lysis buffer solution.”
• “If DNA evidence is
not properly
documented,
collected, packaged,
and preserved, it will
not meet the legal
and scientific
requirements for
admissibility in a
court of law”.
- If DNA evidence is not properly
documented, its origin can be
questioned.
- If it is not properly
collected,biological activity
can be lost.
- If it is not properly packaged,
contamination can occur.
- If it is not properly preserved,
decomposition and
deterioration can occur.
 GENERAL GUIDELINES

Degradation of biological evidence is

most commonly caused by exposure to
moisture and heat, which encourages the
growth of bacteria.

This can lead to destruction of the DNA

and the possibility of incomplete or no DNA
typing results being obtained.
 CONTAMINATION OF DNA EVIDENCE

Contamination of
samples, either by
coming into contact with
each other, or with DNA
from a person handling
the sample, can lead to
un‐interpretable DNA
results.
 CHAIN OF CUSTODY
• Record of individuals who
have had physical
possession of the evidence.
Note: Integrity of chain of
custody
• The fewer people handling the
evidence, the better, the
lesser chance of
contamination and a shorter
chain of custody for court
admissibility hearings”.
 SEAL
To maintain integrity of the
specimen; to further prove that
no tampering took placed.
 “MARKINGS” on the
specimen
These are information to ensure that the
items can be identified by the collect
anytime in the future.

This precaution will help immeasurably to

established the credibility of the
collector’s report or testimony and will
effectively avoid any suggestions that the
item has been misidentified.
 Markings on Evidence during
the collection
A. Exhibits and/or Case number.

B. Initials and or signature of the collecting

officer.

C. Time and date of collection.

***It is also important to note the place or

location where the evidence was collected.
 Questioned blood
stain

a. Exhibits

b. Initials and or signature of c. Time and date of

the collecting officer. collection.
Integrity seal

Initial/Signatu
re of the
Collecting
Officer/who
did the
packaging
Improvised
manner of
Packaging
 Integrity seal
(Scotch tape)

Initial/Signature
of the Collecting
Officer/who did
the packaging
 Exhibit/Case Nr.

Date of Collection

Description of
specimen
enclosed

Other
information
GUIDELINES FOR
LETTER REQUEST
Documentation & Labeling

Documents needed:

1.Letter Request
2.Court Order
3.Chain of custody form (Ideal)
Ideal Letter request
containing all information as
to:
-brief summary of the case
-source of the specimen
-markings

-packaging
 LIMITATIONS
DNA cannot be used to:
•Tell how long the suspect was at the crime
scene.

•Tell how long the suspect handled an object.

•Determine how long ago the cells were

deposited on the item.
 LIMITATIONS
• Environmental factors such as heat,
bacteria and mold can destroy DNA
evidence.

• Identical twins share identical DNA.

• DNA can not be used to determine WHEN

the suspect was at the crime scene.
How long does crime scene
DNA last?
•If items have been stored properly, DNA
can last decades (30+ years).
•Exposed to harsh environment (eg: heat,
sunlight, moisture, mold), DNA may only
last a few days or weeks.
•In the laboratory: we can’t tell in advance
whether or not an item will yield any DNA.
•DNA can be present, but too degraded to
give a result (partial DNA profiles)
 Has Forensic DNA Profiling
replaced other forensic techniques?
•Not all cases can be solved with DNA.
•Not all cases can be solved with
fingerprinting.
•The disciplines can work in synergy.
•Forensic science is multidisciplinary:
pathology, biology, anthropology,
odontology, toxicology, ballistics,
fingerprints, etc.
“Concentrate on what cannot
lie…..The evidence”
- Gil Grissom