Sometimes on a crime scene, a fingerprint can be only partial or can't identify a person. Scientists have discovered a new way to identify a person from the DNA of the bacteria on a person's fingertip.
In an experiment to test the effectiveness of bacteria analysis, scientists took swabs from three computer keyboards and compared bacterial gene sequences with those from the fingertips of the keyboard owners. There findings concluded that even with a small surface such as a computer key to test from, the correct person could be found.
Could this new and innovative way of identification be as trusted as blood or an actual fingerprint? Time and further research will tell.
5 comments:
Danny, i think it would be important to include that it is not just genomes that make us unique, but also the makeup of the microbes in the skin of different people varies greatly. On the hands of the average person around 150 different kinds of germs can be found, and each person leaves behind a unique trail of germs. This new technology is 70% to 90% accurate and will greatly improve the forensic technology available in the near future.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8570054.stm
Danny, this is very interesting to see! This could be a breakthrough in for forensics and crimes! It may interest you to know that the CU-Boulder team used a "metagenomic" survey to simultaneously analyze all of the bacteria on the fingers, palms and computer equipment. The effort involved isolating and amplifying tiny bits of microbial DNA, then building complementary DNA strands with a high-powered sequencing machine that allowed the team to identify different families, genera and species of bacteria from the sample.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100315161718.htm
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