Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer
Awareness of the factors surrounding the transfer of DNA from a person, item, or surface to another person, item, or surface is highly relevant during investigations of alleged criminal activity. Animals in domestic environments could be a victim, offender, or innocent party associated with a crime....
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/7/1486 |
| _version_ | 1797589211591737344 |
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| author | Heidi Monkman Bianca Szkuta Roland A. H. van Oorschot |
| author_facet | Heidi Monkman Bianca Szkuta Roland A. H. van Oorschot |
| author_sort | Heidi Monkman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Awareness of the factors surrounding the transfer of DNA from a person, item, or surface to another person, item, or surface is highly relevant during investigations of alleged criminal activity. Animals in domestic environments could be a victim, offender, or innocent party associated with a crime. There is, however, very limited knowledge of human DNA transfer, persistence, prevalence, and recovery (DNA TPPR) associated with domestic animals. This pilot study aimed to improve our understanding of DNA TPPR associated with domestic dogs by collecting and analysing samples from various external areas of dogs of various breeds, interactions with humans, and living arrangements, and conducting a series of tests to investigate the possibility of dogs being vectors for the indirect transfer of human DNA. Reference DNA profiles from the dog owners and others living in the same residence were acquired to assist interpretation of the findings. The findings show that human DNA is prevalent on dogs, and in the majority of samples, two-person mixtures are present. Dogs were also found to be vectors for the transfer of human DNA, with DNA transferred from the dog to a gloved hand during patting and a sheet while walking. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:03:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff45a260e552420e9146e6fe8449b93d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:03:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff45a260e552420e9146e6fe8449b93d2023-11-18T19:31:13ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252023-07-01147148610.3390/genes14071486Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional TransferHeidi Monkman0Bianca Szkuta1Roland A. H. van Oorschot2School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, AustraliaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, AustraliaOffice of the Chief Forensic Scientist, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Macleod 3085, AustraliaAwareness of the factors surrounding the transfer of DNA from a person, item, or surface to another person, item, or surface is highly relevant during investigations of alleged criminal activity. Animals in domestic environments could be a victim, offender, or innocent party associated with a crime. There is, however, very limited knowledge of human DNA transfer, persistence, prevalence, and recovery (DNA TPPR) associated with domestic animals. This pilot study aimed to improve our understanding of DNA TPPR associated with domestic dogs by collecting and analysing samples from various external areas of dogs of various breeds, interactions with humans, and living arrangements, and conducting a series of tests to investigate the possibility of dogs being vectors for the indirect transfer of human DNA. Reference DNA profiles from the dog owners and others living in the same residence were acquired to assist interpretation of the findings. The findings show that human DNA is prevalent on dogs, and in the majority of samples, two-person mixtures are present. Dogs were also found to be vectors for the transfer of human DNA, with DNA transferred from the dog to a gloved hand during patting and a sheet while walking.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/7/1486forensicDNA transferDNA prevalenceDNA recoveryhuman DNAdogs |
| spellingShingle | Heidi Monkman Bianca Szkuta Roland A. H. van Oorschot Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer Genes forensic DNA transfer DNA prevalence DNA recovery human DNA dogs |
| title | Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer |
| title_full | Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer |
| title_fullStr | Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer |
| title_short | Presence of Human DNA on Household Dogs and Its Bi-Directional Transfer |
| title_sort | presence of human dna on household dogs and its bi directional transfer |
| topic | forensic DNA transfer DNA prevalence DNA recovery human DNA dogs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/7/1486 |
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