The Impact of 2-Propanol and Sodium Hypochlorite on Quantity of Extracted DNA from Human Fingerprints for the Advancement of Forensic Fingerprinting Technologies
Session Number
RISE 05
Advisor(s)
Mrs. Allison Hennings, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Dr. Karen Visick, Loyola University of Chicago
Dr. Peter Larson, Loyola University Medical Center, Genomics Facility
Mrs. Gabrielle Peterson, Glenbard South High School
Discipline
Physical Science
Start Date
17-4-2024 10:45 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 11:00 AM
Abstract
Physical fingerprints are frequently used as evidence in forensic investigations. However, fingerprint evidence is often chemically tampered with. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the individual impact that two chemicals: sodium hypochlorite and isopropyl alcohol have on the DNA that can be successfully extracted from a fingerprint. The results collected from this research can inform the advancement of fingerprinting technologies. Fingerprints were taken on sterile pieces of filter paper and individually treated with five microliters of 5% concentration bleach and 99% concentration isopropyl alcohol. The DNA was extracted from each piece of filter paper and quantified in nanograms using qPCR. A negative control group with no DNA and a positive control group were utilized along with two positive control treatments. It was determined that sodium hypochlorite and 2-propanol decrease the amount of DNA found in fingerprint samples. t-tests revealed that sodium hypochlorite (p
The Impact of 2-Propanol and Sodium Hypochlorite on Quantity of Extracted DNA from Human Fingerprints for the Advancement of Forensic Fingerprinting Technologies
Physical fingerprints are frequently used as evidence in forensic investigations. However, fingerprint evidence is often chemically tampered with. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the individual impact that two chemicals: sodium hypochlorite and isopropyl alcohol have on the DNA that can be successfully extracted from a fingerprint. The results collected from this research can inform the advancement of fingerprinting technologies. Fingerprints were taken on sterile pieces of filter paper and individually treated with five microliters of 5% concentration bleach and 99% concentration isopropyl alcohol. The DNA was extracted from each piece of filter paper and quantified in nanograms using qPCR. A negative control group with no DNA and a positive control group were utilized along with two positive control treatments. It was determined that sodium hypochlorite and 2-propanol decrease the amount of DNA found in fingerprint samples. t-tests revealed that sodium hypochlorite (p