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DNA Extractable from Fingerprints
Edited for brevity.Even if the only evidence forensic analysts can pull from a crime scene is a fingerprint smudged beyond recognition, a new technique developed by Canadian scientists soon could harvest enough DNA from the print to produce a genetic identity. The novel system can extract DNA in only 15 minutes, even if a print has been stored for a year. Scientists expect the invention to help crime-fighters solve mysteries, and already are in talks with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In addition, researchers predict the technology could be at least twice as cheap as existing DNA collection methods. "If you wanted to use blood as a source of DNA, you have fear of contamination, people who donât want to give it, storage issues, and you have to sign a lot of paperwork to get it," research scientist Maria Viaznikova of the Ottawa University Heart Institute in Canada told United Press International. She said forensic scientists have known for about five years that fingerprints contain DNA. However, commonly used extraction techniques need several hours or even days of lab work. "We can do it in 15 minutes," she added. The new extraction technique is under patent. When compared with existing methods, "it is at least as twice less expensive, maybe more," Viaznikova said. Although somewhat OT, I do see relevance here in the WOT--if we can get our hands on some of those audio- and videotapes released by Saddam and Osama on occasion, we may be able to identify whoâs handled them (although likely not Saddam or Osama themselves) and track them back to the source via surveillance--at least âtil they catch on and start wearing gloves, but everybody slips up now and then. Posted by: Dar 2003-08-01 |
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