Chemical composition of latent fingerprints using GC/MS - Essay Example

The fingerprint technology is extensive in the field of forensic science. Fingerprints form a significant basis of criminal investigations because they are unique to specific individuals and can establish a link between a crime scene and specific individuals. Forensic science generates data from a series of experiments which involve the use of various chemicals. Thus, the aspect of chemical composition of fingerprints resurfaces. Detection and quantification of fingerprints is done using specific instruments.

A good example is the Hewlett Packard GC-MS that is a mass selective detector. The instrument consists of two parts, which are the mass spectrometer and the gas chromatograph (Karasek and Clement 5). The gas chromatograph makes use of the fact that different molecules have different chemical properties. The chromatograph contains a capillary tube and molecules adhere to the surface of the column and finally scrap off at different time intervals. Consequently, the mass spectrometer on the other side picks up the molecules and initiates ionization, acceleration and detection of the molecules that have undergone ionization.

When the gas chromatograph and the mass spectrometer work in conjunction, they establish the identity of the substance in question (Karasek and Clement 41). Fingerprint technology is an appropriate approach to crime investigation because there is adequate degree of reliability in their use as their alteration is not easily possible and they are durable hence can be kept as record. A good number of crime investigation procedures have been able to reach amicable solutions after examination of fingerprints.

The process of singling out criminals has been made easier through the knowledge of fingerprint technology (Orthmann and Hess 127). The use of fingerprints is not limited to crime