It is known that secondary transfer of DNA can occur in different forms: skin to skin contact, skin to object contact and object to skin contact. Until now, the secondary transfer that has been studied concerns the transfer of the DNA from one individual via the skin of another individual. DNA transfer between two surfaces and which does not involve skin contact has not been studied but has been accepted as a possibility. In this project, we investigated such a DNA transfer resulting from the contact between different donor surfaces and recipient fabrics. The aim was to establish experimentally an evidential basis that enables pre assessment in casework by giving ore data about secondary transfer for particular scenarios. For instance, contact between an attacker's gloves bearing the attacker's DNA and the victim's clothes. To answer this question we studied static DNA transfer between two pieces of fabric with an applied pressure similar to that which may be involved in an actual case. The results of these experiments were not conclusive and we extended the nature of the DNA donor surfaces to the non-absorbent surfaces (glass and linoleum) using the same experimental conditions. The significance of friction during contact was also explored and it was found that very little transfer took place in the absence of friction.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:502274 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Guelorget, Amandine |
| Publisher | University of Strathclyde |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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