DNA analysis has been widely accepted as providing
valuable evidence concerning the identity of the source of biological
traces. Our work has showed that DNA samples can survive on
cartridges even after firing. The study also raised the possibility of
determining other information such as the age of the donor. Such
information may be invaluable in certain cases where spent cartridges
from automatic weapons are left behind at the scene of a crime. In
spite of the nature of touch evidence and exposure to high chamber
temperatures during shooting, we were still capable to retrieve
enough DNA for profile typing. In order to estimate age of
contributor, DNA methylation levels were analyzed using EpiTect
system for retrieved DNA. However, results were not conclusive, due
to low amount of input DNA.
[1] Bocklandt S LW, Sehl ME, Sanchez FJ, Sinsheimer JS, Steve Horvath
and Eric Vilain. Epigenetic Predictor of Age. PLoS ONE. 2011; 6(6).
[2] Burgess DJ. Human epigenetics: Showing your age. Nature Reviews
Genetics. 2012;14(1):6-.
[3] Van Oorschot R, Ballantyne KN, Mitchell RJ. Forensic trace DNA: a
review. Investig genet. 2010;1(1):14.
[4] Meissner C, Ritz-Timme S. Molecular pathology and age estimation.
Forensic science international. 2010;203(1–3):34-43.
[5] Zubakov D, Liu F, van Zelm MC, Vermeulen J, Oostra BA, van Duijn
CM, et al. Estimating human age from T-cell DNA rearrangements.
Current Biology. 2010;20(22):R970-R1.
[6] Evett I, Pinchin R, Buffery C. An investigation of the feasibility of
inferring ethnic origin from DNA profiles. Journal of the Forensic
Science Society. 1992;32(4):301-6.
[7] Locard E. The analysis of dust traces. Part I. The American Journal of
Police Science. 1930;1(3):276-98.
[8] Wickenheiser RA. Trace DNA: a review, discussion of theory, and
application of the transfer of trace quantities of DNA through skin
contact. Journal of forensic sciences. 2002;47(3):442.
[9] Williamson AL. Touch DNA: Forensic Collection and Application to
Investigations. J Assoc Crime Scene Reconstr. 2012;18(1).
[10] Mawlood SK, Alrowaithi M, Watson N. Advantage of ForensiX Swabs
in Retrieving and Preserving Biological Fluids. J Forensic Sci, May
2015, Vol. 60, No. 3. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12704.
[11] Naseem M. DNA Extraction from Casework Samples using the Applied
Biosystems® AutoMate Express™ Forensic DNA Extraction System
2011 (cited 214 10,15). Available from:
http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/ForensicNews-Past
[12] Liu JY, Zhong C, Holt A, Lagace R, Harrold M, Dixon AB, et al.
AutoMate Express™ Forensic DNA Extraction System for the
Extraction of Genomic DNA from Biological Samples*. Journal of
forensic sciences. 2012;57(4):1022-30.
[13] Montpetit SA, Fitch IT, O’Donnell PT. A simple automated instrument
for DNA extraction in forensic casework. J Forensic Sci2005. p. 555-63.
[14] Butler JM, Shen Y, McCord BR. The development of reduced size STR
amplicons as tools for analysis of degraded DNA. Journal of forensic
sciences. 2003; 48(5):1054-64.
[15] Biosystems A. AmpFLSTR® MiniFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit User
Guide. July 2014.
[16] Polley D, Mickiewicz P, Vaughn M, Miller T, Warburton R, Komonski
D, et al. An investigation of DNA recovery from firearms and cartridge
cases. Journal-Canadian Society of Forensic Science. 2006;39(4):217.
[17] Ryan SR. Successful DNA profiling from fired casings, bullets and
cartridges June 2012; vol.1, Issue 4. Available from:
http://www.ryanforensicdna.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/June_N
ewsletter.163101437.pdf
[18] Dominick A, Welch L, Nic Daeid N, Bleay SM. Is there a relationship
between fingerprint donation and DNA shedding? Journal of Forensic
Identification. 2009;59(2):133.
[19] Ravreby M. Analysis of long-range bullet entrance holes by atomic
absorption spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy.
Journal of forensic sciences. 1982;27(1):92-112.
[20] Quinones I, Daniel B. Cell free DNA as a component of forensic
evidence recovered from touched surfaces. Forensic Science
International: Genetics. 2012;6(1):26-30.
[21] Koons RD, Grant DM. Compositional variation in bullet lead
manufacture. Journal of forensic sciences. 2002;47(5):950-8.
[22] Sutherland E, Coe L, Raleigh EA. McrBC: a multisubunit GTPdependent
restriction endonuclease. Journal of molecular biology.
1992;225(2):327-48. [23] Stewart F, Raleigh E. Dependence of McrBC cleavage on distance
between recognition elements. Biological chemistry. 1997;379(4-5):611-
6.
[24] QIAGEN. EpiTect Methyl II PCR Assay Handbook. www.qiagen.com;
2012.
[25] Horsman-Hall KM, Orihuela Y, Karczynski SL, Davis AL, Ban JD,
Greenspoon SA. Development of STR profiles from firearms and fired
cartridge cases. Forensic Science International: Genetics. 2009;3(4):242-
50.
[26] Nunn S. Touch DNA Collection Versus Firearm Fingerprinting:
Comparing Evidence Production and Identification Outcomes. Journal
of forensic sciences. 2013.
[27] Branch L. Generating forensic DNA profiles from'contact'DNA on
cartridge cases and gun grips 2011.
[1] Bocklandt S LW, Sehl ME, Sanchez FJ, Sinsheimer JS, Steve Horvath
and Eric Vilain. Epigenetic Predictor of Age. PLoS ONE. 2011; 6(6).
[2] Burgess DJ. Human epigenetics: Showing your age. Nature Reviews
Genetics. 2012;14(1):6-.
[3] Van Oorschot R, Ballantyne KN, Mitchell RJ. Forensic trace DNA: a
review. Investig genet. 2010;1(1):14.
[4] Meissner C, Ritz-Timme S. Molecular pathology and age estimation.
Forensic science international. 2010;203(1–3):34-43.
[5] Zubakov D, Liu F, van Zelm MC, Vermeulen J, Oostra BA, van Duijn
CM, et al. Estimating human age from T-cell DNA rearrangements.
Current Biology. 2010;20(22):R970-R1.
[6] Evett I, Pinchin R, Buffery C. An investigation of the feasibility of
inferring ethnic origin from DNA profiles. Journal of the Forensic
Science Society. 1992;32(4):301-6.
[7] Locard E. The analysis of dust traces. Part I. The American Journal of
Police Science. 1930;1(3):276-98.
[8] Wickenheiser RA. Trace DNA: a review, discussion of theory, and
application of the transfer of trace quantities of DNA through skin
contact. Journal of forensic sciences. 2002;47(3):442.
[9] Williamson AL. Touch DNA: Forensic Collection and Application to
Investigations. J Assoc Crime Scene Reconstr. 2012;18(1).
[10] Mawlood SK, Alrowaithi M, Watson N. Advantage of ForensiX Swabs
in Retrieving and Preserving Biological Fluids. J Forensic Sci, May
2015, Vol. 60, No. 3. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12704.
[11] Naseem M. DNA Extraction from Casework Samples using the Applied
Biosystems® AutoMate Express™ Forensic DNA Extraction System
2011 (cited 214 10,15). Available from:
http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/ForensicNews-Past
[12] Liu JY, Zhong C, Holt A, Lagace R, Harrold M, Dixon AB, et al.
AutoMate Express™ Forensic DNA Extraction System for the
Extraction of Genomic DNA from Biological Samples*. Journal of
forensic sciences. 2012;57(4):1022-30.
[13] Montpetit SA, Fitch IT, O’Donnell PT. A simple automated instrument
for DNA extraction in forensic casework. J Forensic Sci2005. p. 555-63.
[14] Butler JM, Shen Y, McCord BR. The development of reduced size STR
amplicons as tools for analysis of degraded DNA. Journal of forensic
sciences. 2003; 48(5):1054-64.
[15] Biosystems A. AmpFLSTR® MiniFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit User
Guide. July 2014.
[16] Polley D, Mickiewicz P, Vaughn M, Miller T, Warburton R, Komonski
D, et al. An investigation of DNA recovery from firearms and cartridge
cases. Journal-Canadian Society of Forensic Science. 2006;39(4):217.
[17] Ryan SR. Successful DNA profiling from fired casings, bullets and
cartridges June 2012; vol.1, Issue 4. Available from:
http://www.ryanforensicdna.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/June_N
ewsletter.163101437.pdf
[18] Dominick A, Welch L, Nic Daeid N, Bleay SM. Is there a relationship
between fingerprint donation and DNA shedding? Journal of Forensic
Identification. 2009;59(2):133.
[19] Ravreby M. Analysis of long-range bullet entrance holes by atomic
absorption spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy.
Journal of forensic sciences. 1982;27(1):92-112.
[20] Quinones I, Daniel B. Cell free DNA as a component of forensic
evidence recovered from touched surfaces. Forensic Science
International: Genetics. 2012;6(1):26-30.
[21] Koons RD, Grant DM. Compositional variation in bullet lead
manufacture. Journal of forensic sciences. 2002;47(5):950-8.
[22] Sutherland E, Coe L, Raleigh EA. McrBC: a multisubunit GTPdependent
restriction endonuclease. Journal of molecular biology.
1992;225(2):327-48. [23] Stewart F, Raleigh E. Dependence of McrBC cleavage on distance
between recognition elements. Biological chemistry. 1997;379(4-5):611-
6.
[24] QIAGEN. EpiTect Methyl II PCR Assay Handbook. www.qiagen.com;
2012.
[25] Horsman-Hall KM, Orihuela Y, Karczynski SL, Davis AL, Ban JD,
Greenspoon SA. Development of STR profiles from firearms and fired
cartridge cases. Forensic Science International: Genetics. 2009;3(4):242-
50.
[26] Nunn S. Touch DNA Collection Versus Firearm Fingerprinting:
Comparing Evidence Production and Identification Outcomes. Journal
of forensic sciences. 2013.
[27] Branch L. Generating forensic DNA profiles from'contact'DNA on
cartridge cases and gun grips 2011.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:70684", author = "S. Mawlood and L. Dennany and N. Watson and B. Pickard", title = "Analysis of DNA from Fired Cartridge Casings", abstract = "DNA analysis has been widely accepted as providing
valuable evidence concerning the identity of the source of biological
traces. Our work has showed that DNA samples can survive on
cartridges even after firing. The study also raised the possibility of
determining other information such as the age of the donor. Such
information may be invaluable in certain cases where spent cartridges
from automatic weapons are left behind at the scene of a crime. In
spite of the nature of touch evidence and exposure to high chamber
temperatures during shooting, we were still capable to retrieve
enough DNA for profile typing. In order to estimate age of
contributor, DNA methylation levels were analyzed using EpiTect
system for retrieved DNA. However, results were not conclusive, due
to low amount of input DNA.", keywords = "Age prediction, Fired cartridge, Trace DNA sample.", volume = "9", number = "8", pages = "926-8", }
