GENDER IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN HAIR USING FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

Identification of the gender of hair represents relevant medicolegal e vidence in criminal cases. The efficacy of Fluorescence In Situ Hybrid ization (FISH) using chromosome X and Y centromeric probes was tested to determine its ability to identify correctly the gender of hair. In this preliminary study, FISH correctly identified the gender of cells from hair as old as 26 days. The technique is accurate, rapid, sensiti ve, easily performed, and readily available. As a forensic laboratory technique, FISH shows great promise.