Improved DNA analysis of human hair

University of Adelaide researchers have developed a simple, low-cost method for the DNA profiling of human hairs. By modifying existing laboratory methods, the team was able to produce accurate DNA profiles at a higher success rate than what is typically achieved.

Associate Professor Jeremy Austin, the deputy director of the university’s Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, explained that DNA profiling of human hairs is critical to solving many serious crimes. But as most hairs found at crime scenes have been severely dehydrated, they contain very little DNA. As a result, existing methods to obtain and interpret DNA profiles from shed human hairs are expensive and often unsuccessful.

In collaboration with colleagues at the University of Canberra, and with the assistance of hundreds of human hairs collected from volunteer donors, Associate Professor Austin and his team set out to develop a new method that could produce better results. He said the researchers were able to “retrieve DNA profiles from shed human hairs that contain trace amounts of DNA without compromising the accuracy of our results”.

Lead author Assistant Professor Dennis McNevin, from the University of Canberra, added, “Our simple modifications will allow this trace DNA to be analysed in a standard forensic laboratory with improved success rates of DNA profiling and without increased error rates.

“This is very important in forensic science, as false positive results can lead to incorrect identifications and poor outcomes in the judicial system.”

The study has been published in the journal Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology.

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