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                            Funding & Awards
 Combined Genetic and Micro-chemical Analysis of Household Dust as a Definitive Trace Identifier of a Room and its Occupants
Note:
              This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Awardee
              University of Central Florida
Award #
              2013-DN-BX-K025
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Orlando, FL
Awardee County
              Orange
Congressional District
              7
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2013
Total funding (to date)
              $376,396
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 13 Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2013, $188,198)
The ultimate goal of trace forensic evidence in a criminal investigation is to identify the people, places and things involved in the commission of the crime. The reality is that, with most types of non-biological trace evidence, association (however strong) rather than positive identification is a more likely outcome. A commonly found trace material that does not appear to be widely analyzed in operational crime labs at this time is household dust. This is unfortunate since the potential for identification rather than merely association with this type of evidence is a realistic possibility. Dust bunnies (i.e. dust balls) appear to be a unique entangled conglomeration of fibers containing a variety of inorganic and organic particulates from the immediate environment that are formed over a period of time due to air flow and that accumulate inside rooms (inside homes or the workplace), vehicles (e.g. trunk) or even in some outdoor locations. They can be transferred onto, for example, the clothing of a body that has been dragged across the floor prior to the body being taken away and deposited elsewhere. Thus, in principle, if one or more dust bunnies are found associated with a crime it should be possible to positively identify the room from which it originated. The hypothesis of this proposal is that, specifically by conjoining DNA and trace evidence methodologies, it might be feasible to identify not only a particular room that might be the location of a crime scene but also to identify both habitual and recent occupiers of the room. The assembled research team, comprising experts in both microscopic trace evidence and DNA analysis, intends to develop new, innovative, state-of-the-art microscopical techniques and DNA methodologies for the collection and identification of human traces in household dust with a view to improving its potential probative value. They will accomplish this objective by: 1) determining the presence and amount of human DNA in dust bunnies and loosely adhering contact traces, 2) performing micro-geographical mapping of bio-particles within dust bunnies, and 3) developing suitable DNA recovery and typing methods for bio-particles isolated from dust bunnies and loosely adhering contact traces.
In summary the work described here, if successful, will enable investigators to acquire intelligence (i) concerning habitual and transient occupiers of a room and (ii) to assist in identifying the source of dust when encountered as trace evidence.
ca/ncf
Supplemental Award 1 (Fiscal Year 2015, $188,198)
As submitted by the proposer: The ultimate goal of trace forensic evidence in a criminal investigation is to identify the people, places and things involved in the commission of the crime. The reality is that, with most types of non-biological trace evidence, association (however strong) rather than positive identification is a more likely outcome. A commonly found trace material that does not appear to be widely analyzed in operational crime labs at this time is household dust. This is unfortunate since the potential for identification rather than merely association with this type of evidence is a realistic possibility. Dust bunnies (i.e. dust balls) appear to be a unique entangled conglomeration of fibers containing a variety of inorganic and organic particulates from the immediate environment that are formed over a period of time due to air flow and that accumulate inside rooms (inside homes or the workplace), vehicles (e.g. trunk) or even in some outdoor locations. They can be transferred onto, for example, the clothing of a body that has been dragged across the floor prior to the body being taken away and deposited elsewhere. Thus, in principle, if one or more dust bunnies are found associated with a crime it should be possible to positively identify the room from which it originated. The hypothesis of this proposal is that, specifically by conjoining DNA and trace evidence methodologies, it might be feasible to identify not only a particular room that might be the location of a crime scene but also to identify both habitual and recent occupiers of the room. The assembled research team, comprising experts in both microscopic trace evidence and DNA analysis, intends to develop new, innovative, state-of-the-art microscopical techniques and DNA methodologies for the collection and identification of human traces in household dust with a view to improving its potential probative value. They will accomplish this objective by: 1) performing microscopical characterization of organic and inorganic material from dust bunnies and loosely adhering contact traces, 2) evaluating sampling methods for the collection of dust bunnies and loosely adhering surface contact traces, 3) determining the presence and amount of human DNA in dust bunnies and loosely adhering contact traces, 4) performing micro-geographical mapping of bio-particles within dust bunnies, 5) developing suitable DNA recovery and typing methods for bio-particles isolated from dust bunnies and loosely adhering contact traces, and 6) analyzing dust within and between rooms within the same dwelling and between different dwellings to ascertain whether such analysis lends support to the proposition that it is feasible to definitely individualize a room and its occupants. In summary the work described here, if successful, will enable investigators to acquire intelligence (i) concerning habitual and transient occupiers of a room and (ii) to assist in identifying the source of dust when encountered as trace evidence.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.
nca/ncf


  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Combined Genetic and Micro-Chemical Analysis of Household Dust as a Definitive Trace Identified of a Room and its Occupants
                  Facial shape manifestations of growth faltering in Tanzanian children
                  Enhanced Genetic Analysis of Single Human Bioparticles Recovered by Simplified Micromanipulation from Forensic 'Touch DNA' Evidence

  
Date Created: September 8, 2013
    
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