DNA TYPING OF DEBRIS FROM FINGERNAILS

In 3 series paired volunteers were asked to gently scratch each other with the fingernails to produce superficial abrasions only of the stra tum corneum. In a 4th series scratch marks were produced in the skin o f cadavers but additionally including the deeper epidermal layers. Deb ris was removed using a thorough technique in series 1 and 2 and a car eful technique in series 3. After DNA extraction, the debris was typed using the STR systems HUMACTBP2 (SE33), HUMTH01 (TC11) and HUMVWFA31 (VWA). In the material obtained from series 1 (i.e. scratching with no prior cleaning of the nails) and series 2 (i.e. cleaning of the nails prior to the experiment) the debris was removed with a sharp instrume nt and only the DNA pattern of the person who carried out the scratchi ng could be detected. In the 3rd series extraneous material was remove d very carefully from under the fingernails to avoid contamination wit h DNA from the nails. In 71% of these cases DNA patterns of the person who had been scratched or mixed DNA patterns of both persons could be detected. In the experiments with postmortem skin the DNA pattern of the cadaver could be detected in all cases. These results show that in crime cases where the perpetrator has been scratched by the victim, s ufficient material can be obtained from under the fingernails for DNA typing if removal of the particles is carried out with sufficient care .