Hi and welcome to the forum Billy Whizz Fan Club
I'm new to this case but have a layperson's understanding of LCN DNA through looking at another case. You seem pretty knowledgeable, so a couple of questions if I may:
1. The biological samples collected in this case were as a result of the dog alerts?
2. As I understand it LCN is used to amplify small samples of DNA where the source material is unknown ie skin cells, sweat, blood etc?
3. In this case has the biological source been identified or is the assumption blood based on the dog alert?
4. Given we are all shedding bits and pieces all the time ie skin cells, hair etc if the case involves a stranger abduction from 5A would he/she have left behind some DNA evidence?
5. If the answer to 3 above is yes this would clearly present problems as he/she would not be the only person depositing DNA in 5A. Potentially all those who have ever entered 5A would leave a trail of DNA although with time this would degrade to such an extent it would be beyond testing? Anyhow for it to be useful to investigators it would require a match ie a sample from a suspect or a database?
6. Why do some soc's not yield any DNA eg Dr Lyn and Megan Russell while other similar soc's do eg The Ripper (scarf of a victim)?
Any links to 'DNA for Dummies' or similar would be appreciated. Thanks
1. No. Not all of them. If you read through the PJ Filex there were a number of other samples tested aside from the human cellular material collected from areas where the blood and cadaver dogs alerted.
2. Mostly (but not exclusively) the FSS describe the samples as human cellular material. They report that they could not confirm the type of cells though.
3. There are many samples . Some are identified but many are not.. We know that Keela is trained to alert only to human blood. The alert is not evidence. The alert proves nothing but it led the forensic team to areas where samples of blood may be found. It is entirely possible that the forensic team missed the blood that Keela alerted to and instead by chance collected other human cellular material.
4. Yes of course though unless they were bleeding or dead this DNA wouldn’t have led to a dog alert.
5. I suspect you are referring to question 4 (not 3). And yes the forensic team would have to get lucky. The DNA would have to match someone already on a database.
6. I have no idea.
Sorry I don’t have any links but there must be loads out there.
