Scientific Working Group on Materials Analysis Position on Hair Evidence

Lanning, A B S Karen; Michaud, L B S Amy; Bisbing, E B S Richard; Springer, Alfred; Tridico, Silvana R.

doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01139.x

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Other hair shaft-based forensic methods can be problematic. Microscopic hair comparison, while heavily used historically, does not have the potential for rigorous statistical and scientific analysis[1, 29, 62, 67, 68]. Previous attempts to use abundance patterns of solubilized hair proteins in two-dimensional electrophoresis protein gels were insensitive, irreproducible, and proved susceptible to environmental factors[69–71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstration of Protein-Based Human Identification Using the Hair Shaft Proteome

et al. 2016

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Human identification from biological material is largely dependent on the ability to characterize genetic polymorphisms in DNA. Unfortunately, DNA can degrade in the environment, sometimes below the level at which it can be amplified by PCR. Protein however is chemically more robust than DNA and can persist for longer periods. Protein also contains genetic variation in the form of single amino acid polymorphisms. These can be used to infer the status of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism alleles. To demonstrate this, we used mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics to characterize hair shaft proteins in 66 European-American subjects. A total of 596 single nucleotide polymorphism alleles were correctly imputed in 32 loci from 22 genes of subjects’ DNA and directly validated using Sanger sequencing. Estimates of the probability of resulting individual non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism allelic profiles in the European population, using the product rule, resulted in a maximum power of discrimination of 1 in 12,500. Imputed non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism profiles from European–American subjects were considerably less frequent in the African population (maximum likelihood ratio = 11,000). The converse was true for hair shafts collected from an additional 10 subjects with African ancestry, where some profiles were more frequent in the African population. Genetically variant peptides were also identified in hair shaft datasets from six archaeological skeletal remains (up to 260 years old). This study demonstrates that quantifiable measures of identity discrimination and biogeographic background can be obtained from detecting genetically variant peptides in hair shaft protein, including hair from bioarchaeological contexts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstration of Protein-Based Human Identification Using the Hair Shaft Proteome

et al. 2016

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“…Microscopic examination of hair evidence can take into account features such as pigmentation (granule distribution and density, spectral analysis), cosmetic treatment (dye, bleach), diameter, appearance in cross-section and structural abnormalities of the shaft. Using all these features permits useful discrimination whether a given hair originates from a specific individual (Gaudette, 1999), leading to the recommendation that hair analysis should begin with a thorough microscopic examination (Lanning et al, 2009). Nevertheless, the search for more objective criteria by which to judge hair matches continues (Taupin, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human hair shaft proteomic profiling: individual differences, site specificity and cuticle analysis

Laatsch

Durbin‐Johnson

Rocke

et al. 2014

PeerJ

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Hair from different individuals can be distinguished by physical properties. Although some data exist on other species, examination of the individual molecular differences within the human hair shaft has not been thoroughly investigated. Shotgun proteomic analysis revealed considerable variation in profile among samples from Caucasian, African–American, Kenyan and Korean subjects. Within these ethnic groups, prominent keratin proteins served to distinguish individual profiles. Differences between ethnic groups, less marked, relied to a large extent on levels of keratin associated proteins. In samples from Caucasian subjects, hair shafts from axillary, beard, pubic and scalp regions exhibited distinguishable profiles, with the last being most different from the others. Finally, the profile of isolated hair cuticle cells was distinguished from that of total hair shaft by levels of more than 20 proteins, the majority of which were prominent keratins. The cuticle also exhibited relatively high levels of epidermal transglutaminase (TGM3), accounting for its observed low degree of protein extraction by denaturants. In addition to providing insight into hair structure, present findings may lead to improvements in differentiating hair from various ethnic origins and offer an approach to extending use of hair in crime scene evidence for distinguishing among individuals.

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“…The DNA in such cases is commonly present in bloodstains, although items with other bodily fluids, such as saliva, 20 or epithelial cells (touch DNA) are also suitable for evaluation, 12,21,22 as are hair samples. 23 Positive results have been obtained when evaluating various weapon types, 24,25 including exploded pipe bombs, 26 as well as ammunition and its component parts. [27][28][29] Numerous examples of the suspect's DNA being identified on weapons exist in the presented series of cases.…”

Section: Linking An Object To a Crimementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the absence of sufficient root material, mitochondrial DNA testing may be performed. 23,60,61 Summary DNA testing may provide valuable investigative information and evidentiary value in homicide investigations by linking a suspect or an object to a crime, by allowing for the determination of the sequence of events, by providing powerful corroborating evidence, and by potentially influencing a defendant's plea. The cases serve to illustrate that the current state of DNA testing can allow for testing of various items of evidence, such as animal feces and cartridge casings, that, in years past, might not have been considered very useful evidence or, if valuable in other regards, might not have been considered a viable source for potential DNA testing.…”

Section: Dna and Hairmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA testing in homicide investigations

Prahlow

Cameron²,

Arendt³

et al. 2017

Med Sci Law

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Objectives With the widespread use of DNA testing, police, death investigators, and attorneys need to be aware of the capabilities of this technology. This review provides an overview of scenarios where DNA evidence has played a major role in homicide investigations in order to highlight important educational issues for police, death investigators, forensic pathologists, and attorneys. Methods This was a nonrandom, observational, retrospective study. Data were obtained from the collective files of the authors from casework during a 15-year period, from 2000 through 2014. Results A series of nine scenarios, encompassing 11 deaths, is presented from the standpoint of the police and death investigation, the forensic pathology autopsy performance, the subsequent DNA testing of evidence, and, ultimately, the final adjudication of cases. Details of each case are presented, along with a discussion that focuses on important aspects of sample collection for potential DNA testing, especially at the crime scene and the autopsy. The presentation highlights the diversity of case and evidence types in which DNA testing played a valuable role in the successful prosecution of the case. Conclusions By highlighting homicides where DNA testing contributed to the successful adjudication of cases, police, death investigators, forensic pathologists, and attorneys will be better informed regarding the types of evidence and situations where such testing is of potential value.

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Scientific Working Group on Materials Analysis Position on Hair Evidence

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Demonstration of Protein-Based Human Identification Using the Hair Shaft Proteome

Demonstration of Protein-Based Human Identification Using the Hair Shaft Proteome

Human hair shaft proteomic profiling: individual differences, site specificity and cuticle analysis

DNA testing in homicide investigations

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