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HOW TO CATCH A CRIMINAL USING
THEIR ‘SKIN SHEDDER’ PROFILE
Author's Corner
“New forensic technique analyzes
microscopic skin shedding of humans to
identify suspects through DNA analysis.”
Background
Touch DNA is a term used to describe
Name: Senatra Naina Silveira genetic material that is left behind when
someone touches an object, such as when
they turn the doorknob on a door, use a
phone, or graze against clothes. In
contrast to blood, hair, or spit samples,
“New forensic technique analyzes
touch DNA is derived from small pieces of
microscopic skin shedding of humans
skin cells that are shed naturally from the
to identify suspects through DNA
body.
analysis.”
Though revolutionary, touch DNA does
come with its problems. A fragment as tiny
Introduction as a single hair root contains a genetic
profile, but the quantities are usually
Flinders University forensic extremely small and fragile and thus
scientists have revealed a subject to contamination, degradation, or
groundbreaking method that blended profiles from more than one
measures how easily people shed individual. Investigators can have a
skin and other cells, their "shedder problem explaining how DNA ended up at
status" in order to better analyze a scene — did the suspect himself actually
DNA evidence at crime scenes. The go there, or was his DNA transferred
advancement would assist indirectly through another person or
investigators in cracking crimes surface?
where conventional DNA evidence This is where shedder status becomes
is limited or ambiguous. critical. Individuals vary enormously in the
