Abstract
The presented study aims at gaining a better understanding of factors affecting the variability of trace DNA profiles obtained from biological material recovered from firearms handled in gun-related crimes. For this purpose, skin contact traces resulting from four realistic alternative handling scenarios were recovered from different surfaces of two types of firearms and the corresponding trace profile characteristics (DNA yield, relative profile contribution for known and unknown contributors) were compared. Observed differences between handling conditions, firearms and surface types, handling individuals and individual deposits emphasize the complexity of trace DNA profile composition expected to be recovered from firearms after realistic handling scenarios. The obtained data will serve as useful information for forensic scientists providing expert opinion on alternative propositions at activity level in the context of gun-related crimes.
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