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amount of cell material they deposit. Some
Study Findings
are "high shedders", depositing rich DNA
traces with every touch, whereas "low
The researchers at Flinders
shedders" may leave hardly any trace at all.
University, coordinated by PhD
Until now, this biological variation was little
student Dr. Piyamas
appreciated and made it difficult to interpret
(Kanokwongnuwut) Petcharoen,
court cases that depended in large part on
have since created a new staining
DNA evidence.
method to quantify shedder status.
Their research, published in Forensic

Science International: Genetics,
Food Why is touch
analyzed 100 volunteers and found a

broad range of shedding activity.
DNA like Wi-Fi?
For → Because even

Major Findings of the Research: when you don’t

Thought see it, you’re still
Individual Variation – Volunteers connected!

varied from low to high shedders.
Gender Differences – Males tend

to lose more cells per square
millimeter compared to females.
Expert Insights
Consistency Over Time –
Interestingly, in 98 of every 100
Professor Adrian Linacre said: "Learning a
people, shedding levels were
suspect's shedder status helps us to estimate
consistent across repeated tests,
the likelihood of their DNA showing up on
indicating shedder status is an
an object. This puts the DNA evidence into
enduring biological characteristic.
context when it is being interpreted in a
No Handedness Effect – No
court, cutting the risk of reaching wrong
difference in shedding was found
conclusions."
between the left and right
Professor Paul Kirkbride, another of the co-
thumbs, demonstrating that hand
authors, highlighted that the technique could
use frequency or dominance does
minimize uncertainty in low-template DNA
not influence outcomes.
cases. For instance, if DNA is recovered on
a weapon, the shedder profile can determine
These results suggest that shedder
if the suspect probably handled it directly or
status may become as consistent and
if they had their DNA deposited by some
unique a characteristic as blood
other route.
group, eye colour or fingerprints.