Submitted By:

James McClain
University Roll No.: 509/CH-044
Exam. Roll No.: A10/CH-014
P.G. Part – I (5th Year)

Under the Guidance of:

Department of Chemistry
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I consider it as my proud privilege my indebtedness to those persons
who have provided invaluable help directly or indirectly to provide
this research work.

My first and foremost reverent gratitude goes to my respected

Supervisor, …. Reader in Chemistry, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack
for having worked under his esteemed supervision. His unique
guidance, uninterrupted help, constant and supervision made me able
to produce this research in due time.

Lastly, my heartfelt thanks to the Government and People of India,

the Indian Council & Cultural Relation (ICCR), the University of
Liberia and my wife – Plenseh Diana Paye – McClain for their
extraordinary courage and preferment they have shown during the
slow process of recovery and cooperation for the successful
completion of the study.

James McClain
Date: PG 5th Year

Place, Cuttack Chemistry Department

 Exam. Roll No. A10/CH-014

Univ. Roll No. 509/CH-044

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the dissertation entitled “Forensic Analysis of

Fingerprints” to Ravenshaw University in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the Award of the Degree of Post Graduate in Chemistry is record of seminar work

done by James McClain during the period of her study in the Department of

Chemistry of Ravenshaw University under my supervision & Guidance and the

dissertation has not formed the basis for the Award of any Degree / Diploma /

Fellowship or similar title to any candidate of any other University

COUNTERSIGNED Guide / Supervisor

H.O.D

Abstract
T he word “forensic” comes from the Latin word for “forum” meaning public.
Forensic is the application of the area of science particularly natural science.
Forensic science is a term used to describe the actions taken by investigators in
multi-disciplinary fields for the examination of crime scenes and gathering evidence to be
used in prosecution. The main areas used in forensic science are biology, chemistry and
medicine, the science also includes the use of physics, computer science, geology or
psychology.

Crime scene investigation involves several aspects of chemistry when analyzing forensic
evidence. Forensic chemistry is a diverse field, involving analysis of samples ranging from
human body fluids to car paint. Each forensic laboratory will have different analytical
capabilities from general chemistry to specialty analyses. Specialized forensic analysis may
also involve the following areas of concentration:

Forensic serology: study of blood. Deals with the used of blood samples to identify
individual
Forensic toxicology: field in which chemical research has had perhaps its greatest
effect. It is used for the identification of drugs and poisons
DNA Fingerprinting: perhaps the newest and most exciting forensic procedure
develops in modern history – DNA typing.
Fingerprinting: first technique probably used by scientist for the identification of
wrongdoers.

Forensic chemistry also provides materials to further the reader’s understanding of the
subject and to encourage her or his further studies in the field. Thus this article presents the
some major laboratory procedures use during forensic analysis of fingerprints.

Table of Contents
1. Introduction 4

2. The Origin of Forensic Science 5

3. The Scope of Forensic Chemistry 5

4. Fingerprinting 6

4.1. History of Fingerprinting 6

4.2. General Principles of Fingerprinting 6

4.3. Fingerprint Detection 10

4.3.1. Power Tests 11

4.3.2. Chemical Tests 12

4.3.3. Light Tests 16

5. DNA fingerprinting 18

5.1. Applications of DNA Testing 19

5.2. Forensic DNA Typing 20

5.2.1. Procedures 21

6. Conclusion 23

7. Bibliography 24

Introduction
This presentation on the “Forensic Analysis of Fingerprints” deal with the long and
fascinating history of fingerprinting. Fingerprinting was probably the first technique
widely used by forensic scientists for the identification of wrong doers. A number of
improvements in the way fingerprints are analyzed and identified have been made,
many resulting from the use of chemical reactions. Among the tests currently
available are those that use silver nitrate, ninhydrin and its analogues, iodine, 7,8 –
benzoflavone, cyanoacrylic acid esters, dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) and
ruthenium tetroxide.
This report composes of the scope and origin of forensic chemistry and the various
methods involve in the detection of fingerprints. This paper also describes the
analytical procedure for the detection of fingerprints which involve power, chemical
and light tests.

The next portion that is section 5 focuses on perhaps the newest and most exciting
forensic procedure developed in modern history: DNA typing. The text provides a
review of the nature and characterization of DNA and the methods now available for
its use in forensic analysis. The text provides a somewhat detailed discussion of the
chemical reactions and technology involved in the amplification, analysis, and
identification of DNA fragments used by today’s forensic scientists.

With the development of techniques for enhancing microscopic pieces of DNA in the
1980s and 1990s, it has become possible to use samples as small as a single hair or a
flake of skin to establish, with near certainty, the likelihood that a particular person
has or has not committed a crime. The availability of DNA typing has already made
possible the release of men and women convicted of crimes they did not commit and
the apprehension of other men and women for crimes of which they were never
suspected.