What is a follicular tag and how can it be used to implicated a suspect of a crime?
A follicular tag, also known as a hair tag, is a small piece of tissue attached to the root of a hair follicle that can be used as potential evidence in criminal investigations. When a hair is forcibly removed, such as during a struggle or a physical altercation, the follicular tag may remain attached to the hair shaft.
The presence of a follicular tag can be significant in a crime investigation for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a biological link between a suspect and a crime scene. DNA analysis can be performed on the tissue to determine the identity of the individual who shed the hair. Since DNA is unique to each person (except identical twins), finding a hair with a follicular tag that matches the suspect's DNA can help implicate them in the crime.
To use a follicular tag to implicate a suspect, the hair with the tag is carefully collected and preserved as evidence. This can be done by securing the hair in a clean, dry container or using specialized evidence collection techniques like sticky-tape lifting or vacuuming. It is crucial to handle the evidence properly to avoid contamination and maintain its integrity for analysis.
Once the hair is collected, forensic experts can conduct DNA testing on the follicular tag. This process involves extracting DNA from the tissue and comparing it to a known DNA reference sample from the suspect. If the DNA profiles match, it strongly suggests the involvement of the suspect at the crime scene.
It's worth noting that the presence of a hair with a follicular tag alone is not definitive proof of guilt. It is one piece of evidence that, when combined with other forensic evidence and investigative details, can contribute to building a case against a suspect. Legal professionals evaluate the totality of the evidence to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.