Forensics

What Fingerprints Can Tell Us

Researchers are taking crime scene fingerprint identification to a new level. They have discovered a straightforward concept for identifying whether a culprit is male or female based on the content in fingerprints.

A team of researchers at UAlbany, led by assistant chemistry professor Jan Halámek,  have discovered how to identify  whether a culprit is male or female, according to a report in Homeland Security Newswire. It is based on the content in fingerprints — specifically amino acids.

According to known literature, amino acid levels in the sweat of females are about twice as high as in males. There is also a slightly different distribution, due mostly to hormonal differences. The same is true for amino acids left behind in fingerprints. Halámek’s research team has devised a simple method to back up these claims.