Khalid M. Lodhi
Fayetteville State University, USA
Title: Generating human DNA profile(s) from cell phones for forensic investigation
Biography
Biography: Khalid M. Lodhi
Abstract
Cell phones were used to collect human DNA. Sufficient quantity and quality of human genomic DNA was obtained from the cell phones using Quantifiler® Human DNA Quantitation Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Genetic profiles were developed from the DNA on the cell phones and were compared with the reference DNA profiles from the buccal cells of the cell phone owners. Complete STR profiles were generated from 33% (N=36) of the participants’ cell phones. In addition, 28% of cell phones had partial DNA profiles matched with the cell phone owners. While, 33% of the cell phones had unknown partial or complete profiles. Four of the unknown partial profiles had more than two alleles at the STR loci indicating multiple unknown cell phone users. The Y chromosome was detected at the Amelogenin locus from the DNA profiles generated from two females’ cell phones identifying unknown male contributor(s). Our study demonstrates that DNA collected from the cell phones can be used as reliable physical evidence in forensic investigations
