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

İlksen Sarı O; Elif Kürkçüoğlu; Gül Gülhan; Yağmur Demir; Yeşim Kiliç; Gönül Filoğlu; Özlem Bülbül Ercan

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

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.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

During this study, no financial and/or moral support was received from any pharmaceutical company, a company that provides and/or produces medical devices, equipment and materials, or any commercial company that has a direct connection with the research topic, which could negatively affect the decision to be made regarding the study during the evaluation process of the study. Supported by TÜBİTAK 2209-A student project.

Project Number

NO PROJECT NUMBER

Ethical Statement

Regarding this study, the authors and/or their family members do not have any scientific or medical committee memberships or relationships with their members, consultancy, expertise, employment in any company, shareholding or similar situations that may have a potential conflict of interest.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Human Biodiversity

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

İlksen Sarı O ^*
0000-0003-4982-1590
Türkiye

Elif Kürkçüoğlu This is me
0009-0002-3752-0678
Türkiye

Gül Gülhan This is me
0009-0003-2313-2217
Türkiye

Yağmur Demir This is me
Türkiye

Yeşim Kiliç This is me
0009-0004-6873-3208
Türkiye

Gönül Filoğlu This is me
0000-0002-8807-317X
Türkiye

Özlem Bülbül Ercan
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 26, 2026

Submission Date

March 4, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Sarı O, İ., Kürkçüoğlu, E., Gülhan, G., Demir, Y., Kiliç, Y., Filoğlu, G., & Bülbül Ercan, Ö. (2026). Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology, 16(1), 24-35. https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN

AMA

1.Sarı O İ, Kürkçüoğlu E, Gülhan G, et al. Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System. Euras J Anthropol. 2026;16(1):24-35. https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN

Chicago

Sarı O, İlksen, Elif Kürkçüoğlu, Gül Gülhan, et al. 2026. “Impact of Fabric Type on DNA Recovery and Forensic Phenotype Prediction Using the HIrisPlex-S System”. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology 16 (1): 24-35. https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN.

EndNote

Sarı O İ, Kürkçüoğlu E, Gülhan G, Demir Y, Kiliç Y, Filoğlu G, Bülbül Ercan Ö (June 1, 2026) Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology 16 1 24–35.

IEEE

[1]İ. Sarı O et al., “Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System”, Euras J Anthropol, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 24–35, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN

ISNAD

Sarı O, İlksen - Kürkçüoğlu, Elif - Gülhan, Gül - Demir, Yağmur - Kiliç, Yeşim - Filoğlu, Gönül - Bülbül Ercan, Özlem. “Impact of Fabric Type on DNA Recovery and Forensic Phenotype Prediction Using the HIrisPlex-S System”. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology 16/1 (June 1, 2026): 24-35. https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN.

JAMA

1.Sarı O İ, Kürkçüoğlu E, Gülhan G, Demir Y, Kiliç Y, Filoğlu G, Bülbül Ercan Ö. Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System. Euras J Anthropol. 2026;16:24–35.

MLA

Sarı O, İlksen, et al. “Impact of Fabric Type on DNA Recovery and Forensic Phenotype Prediction Using the HIrisPlex-S System”. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology, vol. 16, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 24-35, https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN.

Vancouver

1.İlksen Sarı O, Elif Kürkçüoğlu, Gül Gülhan, Yağmur Demir, Yeşim Kiliç, Gönül Filoğlu, Özlem Bülbül Ercan. Impact of fabric type on DNA recovery and forensic phenotype prediction using the HIrisPlex-S System. Euras J Anthropol [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;16(1):24-35. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA82PK34AN