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DNA Extraction From Fingerprints

Posted by michael on from the gattaca-wasn't-pessimistic-enough dept.

Myriad writes "A Canadian scientist has developed a new way of gathering DNA evidence for analysis using fingerprints. The new test can extract DNA in 15 minutes - even from a print stored for many years and in varying conditions. The patented extraction technique consistently produces ~10 nanograms of DNA. Analysis generally requires 5-10 nanograms, although it is possible with as little as 0.1 nanogram."

3 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Court-admissible by joelt49 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You always have the problem of getting it admitted in a US court. Expect big battles over this. For example, if the judge isn't the most tech-savvy judge around, someone could bullshit him/her into believing that the DNA samples are unreliable. Also, you have the BigBrother concern. However, fingerprints are already considered uniquely identifying. The only added problem w/ getting DNA from fingerprints is technology that is still years away, if it even comes to the market -- predicting people's characteristics/future death from DNA. However, the only reason to get the DNA from the fingerprint and not from the sweat that the person left, or the hairs that the person left, etc., is because of the storage factor. So, while people worry about their DNA being extracted from a fingerprint, they should be more worried about all the hair follicles and skin cells they are leaving behind that also give away their DNA.

    1. Re:Court-admissible by cybercyph · · Score: 5, Interesting

      finger prints are uniquely identifying, but often times they themselve's are unidentifiable...if they are smuged, or incomplete. DNA extracted from a smudged fingerprint could be used to identify the print's owner

  2. Proof, Sampling Errors, and Racial Differences by nhaze · · Score: 5, Interesting

    DNA extracted from the region of a fingerprint does not prove that the DNA came from the fingerprint.
    Residual DNA coats every surface and depending on the environmental conditions, whether it is inside or outside exposed to the sun, many other sequences will be present.
    Current sampling and extraction techniques can not avoid this contamination and if your favorite hangout turns out to be a murder scene, well you are in trouble. While control samples taken at the scene in areas where 'no fingerprints' occur can be taken to test background DNA, it certainly is not foolproof.
    Additionally, races and skin types slough skin at different rates and have significant oil-content differences, so there will also likely be a discrepancy in who gets caught. tough luck.