Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm
In forensic investigations, DNA profiles are routinely obtained from firearms evidence and alternative hypotheses may be proposed for consideration on the activity level. DNA profiles found to be consistent with the DNA profile of a specific individual could be a result of directly handling the fire...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/12/2127 |
| _version_ | 1797380933779718144 |
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| author | Rachel Oefelein Sarah Cresswell Carney Matheson Tania Jean-Louis |
| author_facet | Rachel Oefelein Sarah Cresswell Carney Matheson Tania Jean-Louis |
| author_sort | Rachel Oefelein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In forensic investigations, DNA profiles are routinely obtained from firearms evidence and alternative hypotheses may be proposed for consideration on the activity level. DNA profiles found to be consistent with the DNA profile of a specific individual could be a result of directly handling the firearm or other modes of transfer of DNA. Sixteen law-enforcement-owned firearms were evaluated with samples collected from the frame and slide area, the trigger and trigger guard area, and the front and rear sights after brief handling by laboratory personnel. Twenty-two out of forty-eight samples resulted in DNA profiles suitable for comparison, of which six resulted in likelihood ratios (LR) that demonstrated support for the hypothesis that included the brief handler as a contributor to the DNA profile obtained from the sample. Five of these samples were obtained from the frame and slide and one was from the trigger and trigger guard area. None of the DNA profiles obtained from the sights supported the inclusion of the brief handler as a contributor to the DNA profile. Gaining knowledge and supporting data on the nature of DNA profiles typically obtained from both owners and brief handlers can be useful for the purposes of evaluative reporting when considering results obtained from firearm evidence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:45:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b97a68b2512c49eaa6842da83cdfad6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:45:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-b97a68b2512c49eaa6842da83cdfad6d2023-12-22T14:11:01ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252023-11-011412212710.3390/genes14122127Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a FirearmRachel Oefelein0Sarah Cresswell1Carney Matheson2Tania Jean-Louis3DNA Labs International, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, USASchool of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaSchool of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaDNA Labs International, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, USAIn forensic investigations, DNA profiles are routinely obtained from firearms evidence and alternative hypotheses may be proposed for consideration on the activity level. DNA profiles found to be consistent with the DNA profile of a specific individual could be a result of directly handling the firearm or other modes of transfer of DNA. Sixteen law-enforcement-owned firearms were evaluated with samples collected from the frame and slide area, the trigger and trigger guard area, and the front and rear sights after brief handling by laboratory personnel. Twenty-two out of forty-eight samples resulted in DNA profiles suitable for comparison, of which six resulted in likelihood ratios (LR) that demonstrated support for the hypothesis that included the brief handler as a contributor to the DNA profile obtained from the sample. Five of these samples were obtained from the frame and slide and one was from the trigger and trigger guard area. None of the DNA profiles obtained from the sights supported the inclusion of the brief handler as a contributor to the DNA profile. Gaining knowledge and supporting data on the nature of DNA profiles typically obtained from both owners and brief handlers can be useful for the purposes of evaluative reporting when considering results obtained from firearm evidence.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/12/2127DNAfirearmspersistenceactivity level propositionsSTRmix™evaluative reporting |
| spellingShingle | Rachel Oefelein Sarah Cresswell Carney Matheson Tania Jean-Louis Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm Genes DNA firearms persistence activity level propositions STRmix™ evaluative reporting |
| title | Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm |
| title_full | Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm |
| title_fullStr | Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm |
| title_short | Overall Proportion of Total DNA Consistent with an Individual Briefly Handling a Firearm |
| title_sort | overall proportion of total dna consistent with an individual briefly handling a firearm |
| topic | DNA firearms persistence activity level propositions STRmix™ evaluative reporting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/12/2127 |
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