DNA Extraction From Fingerprints

Maria Viaznikova and her team, of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in Canada, have developed a new way of gathering DNA evidence for analysis using fingerprints. The new test can extract DNA in 15 minutes — even from a print stored for many years and in varying conditions. The patented extraction technique consistently produces ~10 nanograms of DNA. Analysis generally requires 5-10 nanograms, although it is possible with as little as 0.1 nanogram