Do dead skin cells contain DNA?

Answer 1

ALL human cells contain some form of DNA except for red blood cells (but white blood cells still do, which is why you can get DNA from a blood sample). Even dead hair contains mitochondrial DNA, which is contained in an organelle called mitochondria, which provides cell energy.

It is a common misconception that dead skin cells, or the outermost layer of skin cells called the "stratum corneum" layer, contain no DNA or organells.

This is completely FALSE.

They actually contain BOTH a nucleus and all skin cell organelles, including all related DNA.

Dead skin cells are actually the number one form of DNA evidence used for testing in crime-related DNA analysis. (See touch DNA and fingernail evidence).

This is explained in every medical journal on skin. There is DNA from dead skin depected in crime dramas, DNA evidence from dead skin is reported on the news every single day, it is used in rape kits, police use dead skin found under the fingernails of victims more than any other DNA, this is even explained on childrens shows like "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and "Beakmans world", yet people fight over it on Wikipedia and seemingly well educated Biology teachers are still misinforming their students.

So why do so many people think there is no DNA in dead skin cells?

The misconception is over 100 years old and comes from the fact that the outermost layer of skin has gone through a process called "keratinization", which also ultimately causes the cells demise and vastly changes it's appearance. This process "degrades" both the nucleus and organelles, but does not "delete" them. When this layer was first observed under a microscope, it appeared to contain no nucleus, and since visual observation was basically the only method of study at the time, and microscopes did not have very good resolving ability, it was taught in schools (incorreclty) that it in fact did not contain a nucleus or organelles, and in all related drawings, it was drawn without them.

However, we have since learned more about how the skin actually works; namely, that all layers of skin are generated from the dermis, or, first layer of skin. While in this layer, it has always been known to contain both a nucleus as well as organells, however, knowledge that this layer was pushed out and became all the other layers was not known, hence the misconception that the outer layer was totally different and did not contain a nucleus.

So if someone tells you the outer layer of your skin contains no DNA, just ask them if they know all skin stems from the dermis, and ask them if they understand the dermis contains DNA. If they have a hard time following that, ask them to look up "touch DNA", which explains DNA indeed appears even in your fingerprints themselves.

Answer 2

No, the DNA is inside the cells not the other way around.

Answer 3

Yes. Even if a tree is dead it has cells. They are no longer living but they are still there.

Answer 4

NO

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

No.

Answer 7

Yes