DANDRUFF AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF DNA IN FORENSIC CASEWORK

Dandruff is a clinical alteration of the skin that consists histologic ally of orthokeratotic dumps with minute parakeratotic foci found in i nflammatory pathologies such as seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. T herefore, some nucleated cells should be found in dandruff and hence t here is a possibility that forensically typeable DNA could be extracte d from dandruff. Because of a particular case in which we were involve d, a study was carried out to determine whether or not DNA could be ex tracted from dandruff, and if the two most widely used extraction tech niques (Chelex and organic) would be applicable. Results show that suf ficient quantities of DNA (more than 30 to 40 ng) can be obtained from as little as 1.0 to 1.5 mg of dandruff. Both methods yield DNA, altho ugh the organic procedure seems to yield more (72.5 ng Chelex vs. 183. 3 ng organic). All the DNA samples extracted were typed correctly for the loci HUMTH01 and HUMvWA. Therefore, dandruff can be considered a p otential source of DNA for forensic identification.