SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Eurasian Journal of Anthropology / 2026 / Volume: 16 Issue: 1

Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System

İlksen Sarı O(Istanbul Gelisim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Autopsy Assistant, Istanbul, Türkiye)0000-0003-4982-1590
Elif Kürkçüoğlu(Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences)0009-0002-3752-0678
Gül Gülhan(Istanbul Gelisim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Autopsy Assistant, Istanbul, Türkiye)0009-0003-2313-2217
Yağmur Demir(Istanbul Gelisim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Autopsy Assistant, Istanbul, Türkiye)
Yeşim Kiliç(Istanbul Gelisim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Autopsy Assistant, Istanbul, Türkiye)0009-0004-6873-3208
Gönül Filoğlu(Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences)0000-0002-8807-317X
Özlem Bülbül Ercan(Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences)
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-06-26
DOI
—
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: This study underscores the combined influence of substrate characteristics and DNA quality on forensic phenotype inference, emphasizing the importance of substrate considerations in forensic investigations.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Background: Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) allows the prediction of externally visible characteristics, such as eye, hair, and skin color, from biological samples.
📊
Key Findings & Data:However, the quality and quantity of DNA recovered can be strongly influenced by the substrate on which biological material is deposited.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: This study underscores the combined influence of substrate characteristics and DNA quality on forensic phenotype inference, emphasizing the importance of substrate considerations in forensic investigations.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:HIrisPlex-S · DNA degradation · Forensic DNA Phenotyping

Abstract

Background: Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) allows the prediction of externally visible characteristics, such as eye, hair, and skin color, from biological samples. However, the quality and quantity of DNA recovered can be strongly influenced by the substrate on which biological material is deposited. Aim: In this study, blood samples from five volunteers were deposited on cotton, denim, and polyester fabrics and stored at room temperature for seven months. DNA was extracted and analyzed using the HIrisPlex-S panel to predict eye, hair, and skin color. Methods: Analyses involving 41 SNP loci were performed using the HIrisPlex-S protocol and the SNaPshot single base extension method, while phenotype predictions were made using an online web tool (https://hirisplex.erasmusmc.nl/) based on a multinomial logistic regression (MLR) model. Results: Reference samples yielded high DNA concentrations and complete SNP profiles, resulting in accurate predictions for blue and brown eye colors, black and brown hair, and most skin tones. In fabric-derived samples, cotton and denim provided sufficient DNA for reliable phenotype prediction, while polyester consistently yielded low or undetectable DNA, preventing successful genotyping. Across all fabric types, intermediate eye colors and blond hair were frequently misclassified, highlighting inherent limitations of prediction models and the polygenic complexity of these traits. Allelic dropout was most pronounced in polyester samples and at specific loci, including MC1R and SLC24A5, which impacted hair and skin color predictions. Our findings demonstrate that fabric type significantly affects DNA preservation and forensic phenotype prediction accuracy. Cotton and denim are suitable substrates for recovering DNA for HIrisPlex-S analysis, whereas polyester poses substantial challenges. Conclusion: This study underscores the combined influence of substrate characteristics and DNA quality on forensic phenotype inference, emphasizing the importance of substrate considerations in forensic investigations.

🔖

Cite This Article

O, İ. S., Kürkçüoğlu, E., Gülhan, G., Demir, Y., Kiliç, Y., Filoğlu, G., Ercan, Ö. B. (2026). Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology, Volume: 16 Issue: 1. https://ajindex.com/articles/1585459

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (31)

  1. Breslin K, Wills B, Ralf A, Ventayol Garcia M, Kukla-Bartoszek M, Pospiech E, et al. (2019) HIrisPlex-S system for eye, hair, and skin color prediction from DNA: massively parallel sequencing solutions for two common forensically used platforms. Forensic Sci Int Genet 43:102152.
  2. Budowle B, Van Daal A. (2008) Forensically relevant SNP classes. Biotechniques 44(5):603-610.
  3. Bulbul O, Filoglu G. (2018) Development of a SNP panel for predicting biogeographical ancestry and phenotype using massively parallel sequencing. Electrophoresis 39(21):2743-2751.
  4. Bulbul O, Zorlu T, Filoglu G. (2020) Prediction of human eye colour using highly informative phenotype SNPs (PISNPs). Aust J Forensic Sci 52(1):27-37.
  5. Butler JM, Budowle B, Gill P, Kidd KK, Phillips C, Schneider PM, et al. (2008) Report on ISFG SNP panel discussion. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl Ser 1(1):471-472.
  6. Butler JM, Coble MD, Vallone PM. (2007) STRs vs. SNPs: thoughts on the future of forensic DNA testing. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 3(3):200-205.
  7. Cabrejas-Olalla A, Jørgensen FG, Cheng JY, Kjærgaard PC, Schierup MH, Mailund T, et al. (2025) Genetic predictions of eye and hair colour in the Danish population. Forensic Sci Int Genet 78:103267.
  8. Chaitanya L, Breslin K, Zuñiga S, Wirken L, Pośpiech E, Kukla-Bartoszek M, et al. (2018) The HIrisPlex-S system for eye, hair and skin colour prediction from DNA: introduction and forensic developmental validation. Forensic Sci Int Genet 35:123-135.
  9. Devranoglu D, Tavaci I, Filoglu G, Bulbul O. (2021) Effect of type of degraded DNA samples on human eye color prediction. Pak J Zool 53(4):1201-1209.
  10. Deymenci E, Sarı OI, Filoglu G, Polat E, Bulbul O. (2024) Eye and hair color prediction of human DNA recovered from Lucilia sericata larvae. Int J Legal Med 138(2):627-637.
  11. Fabbri M, Alfieri L, Mazdai L, Frisoni P, Gaudio RM, Neri M. (2023) Application of forensic DNA phenotyping for prediction of eye, hair and skin colour in highly decomposed bodies. Healthcare 11(5):647.
  12. Frudakis TN. (2007) Molecular photofitting: predicting ancestry and phenotype using DNA. Academic Press. Frudakis T, Thomas M, Gaskin Z, Venkateswarlu K, Chandra KS, Ginjupalli S, et al. (2003) Sequences associated with human iris pigmentation. Genetics 165(4):2071-2083.
  13. Gill P. (2001) An assessment of the utility of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for forensic purposes. Int J Legal Med 114(4-5):204-210.
  14. Kayser M. (2015) Forensic DNA phenotyping: Predicting human appearance from crime scene material for investigative purposes. Forensic Sci Int Genet 18:33-48.
  15. Kukla-Bartoszek M, Szargut M, Pośpiech E, Diepenbroek M, Zielińska G, Jarosz A, et al. (2020) The challenge of predicting human pigmentation traits in degraded bone samples with the MPS-based HIrisPlex-S system. Forensic Sci Int Genet 47:102301.
  16. Lin JY, Fisher DE. (2007) Melanocyte biology and skin pigmentation. Nature 445(7130):843-850.
  17. Liu F, van Duijn K, Vingerling JR, Hofman A, Uitterlinden AG, Janssens ACJW, et al. (2009) Eye color and the prediction of complex phenotypes from genotypes. Curr Biol 19(5):192-193.
  18. Marano LA, Fridman C. (2019) DNA phenotyping: current application in forensic science. Res Rep Forensic Med Sci 9:1-8.
  19. Navarro-López B, Baeta M, Suárez-Ulloa V, Martos-Fernández R, Moreno-López O, Martínez-Jarreta B, et al. (2024) Exploring eye, hair, and skin pigmentation in a Spanish population: insights from HIrisPlex-S predictions. Genes 15(10):1-19.
  20. Perera MER, Sumanasiri HBN. (2022) A study to investigate the possibility of using washed bloodstains in selected cotton and polyester woven fabrics as direct forensic evidence. International Open University Research Sessions-2022 (Conference), The Open University of Sri Lanka.
  21. Prinz M, Berghaus G. (1990) The effect of various stain carriers on the quality and quantity of DNA extracted from dried bloodstains. Z Rechtsmed 103(3):191-197.
  22. Reynolds M, Silenieks E. (2016) Considerations for the assessment of bloodstains on fabrics. J Bloodstain Pattern Anal 32(2):15-20.
  23. Salvo NM, Janssen K, Kirsebom MK, Meyer OS, Berg T, Olsen GH. (2022) Predicting eye and hair colour in a Norwegian population using Verogen’s ForenSeq™ DNA signature prep kit. Forensic Sci Int Genet 56:102620. Sarı OI, Simsek SZ, Filoglu G, Bulbul O. (2022) Predicting eye and hair color in a Turkish population using the HIrisPlex system. Genes 13(11):2094.
  24. Stojanović I, Stefanović A, Ilić G. (2024) DNA degradation of bloodstains on cotton fabric caused by different washing procedures. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 20(4):1303-1309.
  25. Sturm RA, Larsson M. (2009) Genetics of human iris colour and patterns. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 22(5):544-562.
  26. Sulem P, Gudbjartsson DF, Stacey SN, Helgason A, Rafnar T, Magnusson KP, et al. (2007) Genetic determinants of hair, eye and skin pigmentation in Europeans. Nat Genet 39(12):1443-1452.
  27. Walsh S, Chaitanya L, Breslin K, Muralidharan C, Bronikowska A, Pospiech E, et al. (2017) Global skin colour prediction from DNA. Hum Genet 136:847-863.
  28. Walsh S, Chaitanya L, Clarisse L, Wirken L, Draus-Barini J, Kovatsi L, et al. (2014) Developmental validation of the HIrisPlex system: DNA-based eye and hair colour prediction for forensic and anthropological usage. Forensic Sci Int Genet 9(1):150-161.
  29. Walsh S, Kayser M. (2016) A practical guide to the HIrisPlex system: simultaneous prediction of eye and hair color from DNA. Methods Mol Biol 1420:213-231.
  30. Walsh S, Liu F, Ballantyne KN, van Oven M, Lao O, Kayser M. (2011) IrisPlex: a sensitive DNA tool for accurate prediction of blue and brown eye colour in the absence of ancestry information. Forensic Sci Int Genet 5(3):170-180.
  31. Walsh S, Liu F, Wollstein A, Kovatsi L, Ralf A, Kosiniak-Kamysz A, et al. (2013) The HIrisPlex system for simultaneous prediction of hair and eye colour from DNA. Forensic Sci Int Genet 7(1):98-115.