Duct tape and items retrieved from water are common pieces of evidence in forensic casework. However, there is little research uniting DNADNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the genetic material found in cells, composed of a double helix structure. It serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. recovery from immersed tape evidence. A new study examines the feasibility of the recovery of DNA from water-logged duct tape. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Forensic GenomicsA genome is the complete set of an organism's genetic material, while genomics is the study of genomes, investigating their evolution, structure, and function., evaluated the effects of submersion duration and initial cellular concentration on the ability to recover DNA and produce Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profile from folded duct tape has been submerged in ocean water for up to 2 weeks.
In the article Joseph Donfack from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and his co-authors demonstrated that it is possible to recover enough DNA to yield a complete short tandem repeatA short tandem repeat is a microsatellite with repeat units that are 2 to 7 base pairs in length, with the number of repeats varying among individuals, making STRs effective for human identification purposes (STR) profile from folded duct tape that has been submerged in ocean water for up to 2 weeks, provided that initial amount of cellular material is sufficient. Additionally, the study also highlighted that it is possible to recover touch DNA from latent prints, with complete STR profiles recovered from samples submerged for up to 168 h (1 week).
Finally, they concluded that “the durability and adhesive nature of duct tape seem to provide protection to cellular material on its surface while submerged in aqueous environments.”
Article Reference: Luisa V. Forger, Ashley L. Inmon, Mary K. Book, and Joseph Donfack. Forensic Genomics.Jun 2021.50-59.http://doi.org/10.1089/forensic.2021.0001
Source: Mary Ann Liebert Publications.
