after sexual abuseif the perpetrator is unknown, it is necessary to find traces of his DNA in the victim. If he ejaculated into her, it’s pretty easy. However, if you haven’t done so, the task becomes more difficult. Your skin cells can be looked for, but sometimes there aren’t enough to find a DNA sample that can be tested. For this reason, a group of scientists from Murdoch Universityin Perth, Australia, wanted to go further and find a solution in bacteria.
We all live with microorganisms inside us, most of which perform tasks that are useful to us. This is what is known as microbiota. For example, gut microbiota. Much is also known about oral. As far as women are concerned, quite a lot of research has been done on vaginal. However, the penis of men has been studied very little.
It is known that when two people kiss, a lot of bacteria is exchanged between them, and that couples very similar oral microbiota. What if the same thing happened to the genitals? This question was asked by these scientists, whose results were recently published in International forensics. They confirmed that it is true that in penetrative sex there is an exchange of microorganisms, which they dubbed as sexoma and that his analysis can be very useful after a sexual assault.
Usefulness of bacteria after sexual abuse
In carrying out this study, the authors collaborated with six heterosexual couplesthat genital swab samples were taken both before and after penetrating sex.
They were all between the ages of 22 and 30 and used various methods of contraception. Swab samples were analyzed looking for the genetic material of the bacteria and other microorganisms that make up their sex.
Indeed, what they already suspected was confirmed. In women, bacteria from the sexoma of the male penis got into the vagina and vice versa. Moreover, each sex was different enough from the others to rule out suspects. I mean, it might not be as unique as fingerprints or a person’s genetic imprint. But that was enough to rule out suspects, since it’s unlikely that two people with exactly the same bacterial composition will find themselves in the same situation.
After sexual assault, there are usually few suspects, so if there is no DNA, sexom analysis this can be very helpful.
What about contraceptive methods?
In all cases, bacteria were transferred from one member of the pair to the other. especially in the genre lactobacilli.
Not surprisingly, the transfer was much higher in couples who did not use barrier methods of contraception, such as preservative. Although even in these cases there was some carryover.
All this does not mean that conventional DNA analysis should be abandoned after sexual abuse. It’s still a good option. However, when combined with sex, it can be even more beneficial.
It will be necessary to further study the subject, but it looks like it could be a very useful tool for forensics.
Source: Hiper Textual
