Human Hair Shaft Volume and Mitochondrial DNA Recovery

Kreikemeier, Melissa A., Human Hair Shaft Volume and Mitochondrial DNA Recovery. Master’s of Science (Biomedical Science, Emphasis in Forensic Genetics) August, 2007, 54 pp., 6 tables, 26 figures, References, 45 titles. The goal of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between hair volume and amount of amplified mtDNA for all head hair samples, as well as among the three major ethnic groups, different hair colors, and different donors. This relationship could be used to determine how much of a hair sample is needed for extraction so that enough mtDNA PCR product is obtained, while preserving forensic hair samples and avoiding unnecessary consumption of evidence. Amplification success rates were also calculated for each of these categories to determine if the findings coincided with previously published literature.