An Australian-based scientist announced yesterday he had made a step forward in a technique for DNA testing in court so that an individual can be identified a single cell.
An
Australian-based
scientist
announced
yesterday
he
had
made
a
step
forward
in
a
technique
for
DNA
testing
in
court
so
that
an
individual
can
be
identified
a
single
cell
.
Ian Findlay, from the Australian Genome Research Facility at the University of Queensland, said current DNA testing required 200 to 500 cells to gain a similar level of accuracy.
Ian
Findlay
,
from
the
Australian
Genome
Research
Facility
at
the
University
of
Queensland
,
said
current
DNA
testing
required
200
to
500
cells
to
gain
a
similar
level
of
accuracy
.
"What we have done has brought that down to one cell."
``
What
we
have
done
has
brought
that
down
to
one
cell
.
''
Dr Findlay said after releasing details of his DNA testing technique at a Sydney conference.
Dr
Findlay
said
after
releasing
details
of
his
DNA
testing
technique
at
a
Sydney
conference
.
The technology could allow investigators to pick up DNA identifies from plastic cards and even build up a complete history of the people who have handled a paper document.
The
technology
could
allow
investigators
to
pick
up
DNA
identifies
from
plastic
cards
and
even
build
up
a
complete
history
of
the
people
who
have
handled
a
paper
document
.
"You'd have to wear a space suit to stop yourself from leaving traces.
``
You
'd
have
to
wear
a
space
suit
to
stop
yourself
from
leaving
traces
.
You can identify cells on the paper, so you can work out where it's come from and who's touched it."
You
can
identify
cells
on
the
paper
,
so
you
can
work
out
where
it
's
come
from
and
who
's
touched
it
.
''
he said.
he
said
.
The technique could also be used to trace the thrower of a punch from cells left behind on the skin of their victim.
The
technique
could
also
be
used
to
trace
the
thrower
of
a
punch
from
cells
left
behind
on
the
skin
of
their
victim
.
Even the wearing of latex gloves would not help: small cells can pass through the gloves, and the constant flow of genetic material given off by the human body would leave further evidence.
Even
the
wearing
of
latex
gloves
would
not
help
:
small
cells
can
pass
through
the
gloves
,
and
the
constant
flow
of
genetic
material
given
off
by
the
human
body
would
leave
further
evidence
.
"We gained a skin cell from a document dating back 30 years and managed to gain a DNA fingerprint.
``
We
gained
a
skin
cell
from
a
document
dating
back
30
years
and
managed
to
gain
a
DNA
fingerprint
.
DNA evidence can remain fresh for decades, perhaps even centuries," Dr Findlay said.
DNA
evidence
can
remain
fresh
for
decades
,
perhaps
even
centuries
,
''
Dr
Findlay
said
.
"The potential for this technology to solve unsolved crimes is great."
``
The
potential
for
this
technology
to
solve
unsolved
crimes
is
great
.
''
he said.
he
said
.
But Dr Findlay, named scientist of the year in 1998 by the European Society of Human Genetics, said the new testing needed to be scientifically validated, which would take up to five years.
But
Dr
Findlay
,
named
scientist
of
the
year
in
1998
by
the
European
Society
of
Human
Genetics
,
said
the
new
testing
needed
to
be
scientifically
validated
,
which
would
take
up
to
five
years
.
He said, "There are serious consequences taking on technologies too early.
He
said
,
``
There
are
serious
consequences
taking
on
technologies
too
early
.
The public has to be sure that they have the greatest confidence in the security and court systems."
The
public
has
to
be
sure
that
they
have
the
greatest
confidence
in
the
security
and
court
systems
.
''
An Australian-based scientist announced yesterday he had made a step forward in a technique for DNA testing in court so that an individual can be identified a single cell.  Ian Findlay, from the Australian Genome Research Facility at the University of Queensland, said current DNA testing required 200 to 500 cells to gain a similar level of accuracy. "What we have done has brought that down to one cell." Dr Findlay said after releasing details of his DNA testing technique at a Sydney conference.  The technology could allow investigators to pick up DNA identifies from plastic cards and even build up a complete history of the people who have handled a paper document.  "You'd have to wear a space suit to stop yourself from leaving traces. You can identify cells on the paper, so you can work out where it's come from and who's touched it." he said.  The technique could also be used to trace the thrower of a punch from cells left behind on the skin of their victim. Even the wearing of latex gloves would not help: small cells can pass through the gloves, and the constant flow of genetic material given off by the human body would leave further evidence.  "We gained a skin cell from a document dating back 30 years and managed to gain a DNA fingerprint. DNA evidence can remain fresh for decades, perhaps even centuries," Dr Findlay said. "The potential for this technology to solve unsolved crimes is great." he said.  But Dr Findlay, named scientist of the year in 1998 by the European Society of Human Genetics, said the new testing needed to be scientifically validated, which would take up to five years.  He said, "There are serious consequences taking on technologies too early. The public has to be sure that they have the greatest confidence in the security and court systems."