As forensic odontologists, we know lip print analysis as a potential field of study. In practice, however, this tool seems to lack usefulness. A few cases from the past were described in the scientific literature, but are you aware of any recent application of cheiloscopy that was important in forensic odontology? This question is part of a study to find out how scientific are forensic tools from the past.
Application of chieloscopy is still relevant in those cases where an unknown or suspected lip print of a person (either victim or assailant/s) is found on a surface of cup, glass, mirror or other surface. It's more evident (even on a naked eye examination) if the person smudged lip balm or lipstick earlier.
Recent study shows that there may be more than one type of chieloscopic pattern on a single lip quadrant.
This can be compared to help in forensic investigation in terms of identification of the person including event or crime reconstruction
Presence of lip prints at crime scene can form basis for evidence regarding number of peoples involved, presence or absence of a suspect and sex of an individual.(1) If you search FBI has already used it in bank robbery of 1987.(2)
Studies reveal the possibility of obtaining DNA from the latent lip prints of an individual which can help to detect his genetic profile. (3)
References:
1. Chowdhry A. 2018 Handbook of Forensic odontology, Century Publications New Delhi
2. Williams TR. Lip prints – another means of identification. J Forensic Indent 1991;41(3):190-194.
3. Castello A, Alvarez M, Verdu F. Luminous lip-prints as criminal evidence. Forensic Sci Int 2005; 155:185-7.
It is nice to see your contribution to the debate, Aman.
The process of including or exlcuding suspects from crime scenes depends on how distinctive the lip patterns would be. So far, studies in the field are mostly descriptive (methodologically speaking, they are not able to reach a high level of evidence) and are not uniform on reporting distinctiveness (not to say uniqueness). Currently, profiling suspects or counting their numbers from a crime scene is a procedure that leaves many unchecked boxes if you consider Daubert's standards. So, cheiloscopy remains a field worth of investigation within the academy walls, but with important restrictions prior to any acceptance in Court (I never had a case, do you?).
The FBI example from 1987 corroborates the question when it comes to reproducing techniques from the past - an obscure period in which practice was guided by empiricism (without properly evolving into science).
If DNA is collected from the lip print, then we are talking about genetics (checking some boxes now) and not lip pattern analysis anymore - in this point we agree.
Dr Ademir,
Our discussion is opening up a pandoras box (gaps in literature and opinion seeking):
1. Efficacy and repeatability of Lip print analysis (LPA)
2. Uniform acceptable technique of LPA
3. Cases of LPA globally
4. Any important applications of Lip analysis as LPA doesn't include DNA
My take: I am in sync with quote by Dr Ashith Acharya "misdirected venture in research in forensic odontology in India and its publication in this journal-a disproportionately large number of articles are on just two topics, namely, lip prints (cheiloscopy) and palatal rugae"
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