Can latent fingerprint disclose the sex of the donor? A preliminary test study using GC-MS analysis of latent fingerprints

PRIMEAU, Charlotte, Veronika DZETKULIČOVÁ and Tom SHEPHERD. Can latent fingerprint disclose the sex of the donor? A preliminary test study using GC-MS analysis of latent fingerprints. Journal of Forensic Sciences. Hoboken: Wiley, 2023, vol. 68, No 4, p. 1178-1189. ISSN 0022-1198. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15260.

Basic information

• Original name: Can latent fingerprint disclose the sex of the donor? A preliminary test study using GC-MS analysis of latent fingerprints
• Authors: PRIMEAU, Charlotte, Veronika DZETKULIČOVÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution) and Tom SHEPHERD.
• Edition: Journal of Forensic Sciences, Hoboken, Wiley, 2023, 0022-1198.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30106 Anatomy and morphology
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 1.600 in 2022
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15260
• UT WoS: 000977137600001
• Keywords in English: chemical analysis; classification; fingermarks; mass spectrometry; profiling
• Tags: 14110514, rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

While fingerprints are a highly used means of identification, not every fingerprint left behind on a potential crime scene can be used for identification purposes. In some cases, the fingerprint may be smudged, partially preserved or overlapping with other prints hence distorting the ridge pattern and may therefore be not appropriate for identification. Further, fingermark residue yields a very low abundance of genetic material for DNA analysis. In such cases, the fingermark may be used to retrieve basic donor information such as sex. The focus of this paper was to assess the possibility of differentiating between the sexes of the donor of latent fingermarks. Analytical method was GC-MS analysis of the chemical compounds of latent fingermarks using 22 male and 22 female donors. Results showed 44 identified compounds. Two alcohols, octadecanol C-18 and eicosanol C-20, were found to show a difference that was statistically significant between male and female donors. There is also some evidence for the possibility of distinguishing sex of the fingermark donor based on the distribution of branched chain fatty acids, as free compounds or esterified in wax esters.