A Review of Trace “Touch DNA” Deposits: Variability Factors and an Exploration of Cellular Composition

Julia Burrill; Barbara Daniel; Nunzianda Frascione

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.11.019

A Review of Trace “Touch DNA” Deposits: Variability Factors and an Exploration of Cellular Composition

Julia Burrill, Barbara Daniel, Nunzianda Frascione

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Abstract

The use in courtrooms of forensic DNA typing results from presumably touched or handled items is increasing as the sensitivity of detection techniques improves. Research investigating how much DNA can be recovered from handled items, whether trace DNA can be detected under certain scenarios including varying degrees of indirect transfer, and factors which may influence these results is summarized here. Fundamentally, our current understanding of the cellular content of touch deposits and the origins of the potential trace DNA therein is extremely limited. Possible origins include anucleate corneocytes, fragmentary cells/nuclei, nucleated epithelial cells from hands, transferred nucleated cells, and cell-free DNA. Here we review the existing evidence for each possible source and consider remaining knowledge gaps regarding forensically relevant touch depositions.

Original language	English
Journal	Forensic Science International: Genetics
Early online date	27 Nov 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.11.019
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 27 Nov 2018

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A Review of Trace_BURRILL_Firstonline27November2018_GREEN AAM (CC BY-NC-ND)Accepted author manuscript, 1.11 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "A Review of Trace “Touch DNA” Deposits: Variability Factors and an Exploration of Cellular Composition",

abstract = "The use in courtrooms of forensic DNA typing results from presumably touched or handled items is increasing as the sensitivity of detection techniques improves. Research investigating how much DNA can be recovered from handled items, whether trace DNA can be detected under certain scenarios including varying degrees of indirect transfer, and factors which may influence these results is summarized here. Fundamentally, our current understanding of the cellular content of touch deposits and the origins of the potential trace DNA therein is extremely limited. Possible origins include anucleate corneocytes, fragmentary cells/nuclei, nucleated epithelial cells from hands, transferred nucleated cells, and cell-free DNA. Here we review the existing evidence for each possible source and consider remaining knowledge gaps regarding forensically relevant touch depositions.",

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AU - Frascione, Nunzianda

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AB - The use in courtrooms of forensic DNA typing results from presumably touched or handled items is increasing as the sensitivity of detection techniques improves. Research investigating how much DNA can be recovered from handled items, whether trace DNA can be detected under certain scenarios including varying degrees of indirect transfer, and factors which may influence these results is summarized here. Fundamentally, our current understanding of the cellular content of touch deposits and the origins of the potential trace DNA therein is extremely limited. Possible origins include anucleate corneocytes, fragmentary cells/nuclei, nucleated epithelial cells from hands, transferred nucleated cells, and cell-free DNA. Here we review the existing evidence for each possible source and consider remaining knowledge gaps regarding forensically relevant touch depositions.

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A Review of Trace “Touch DNA” Deposits: Variability Factors and an Exploration of Cellular Composition

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