Photo by
Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo
Dr. Julie Valentine, professor of nursing at BYU.
Photo by
Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo
This article discusses sexual assault. If you are a survivor of sexual misconduct, BYU has extensive resources to help: https://advocates.byu.edu
In cases of groping sexual assaults, assailants often leave behind frustratingly little physical evidence by which they can be identified and prosecuted, or so it’s commonly believed. But it turns out, scientists can sometimes develop a full DNA profile using only the skin cells attackers shed on the victims they assault.
It’s called “touch DNA analysis,” and forensic experts have been refining the technique for nearly 25 years. Yet, many law enforcement officers and healthcare providers remain unaware that bodily fluids are not the only source of useful DNA samples, and they neglect to collect critical evidence from groping survivors’ clothing and skin.