Science against Crime
New technique will make it easier to find criminals by DNA
Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+
Now it is difficult for criminologists at the crime scene to understand where the genetic material of the attacker is, and where it is an innocent person who accidentally found himself in the wrong place. Scientists have learned to separate the traces, and at the same time figured out which finger most often betrays the criminal.
To solve this problem, scientists from Flinders University (Australia) has developed a special dye that binds to DNA. Now, instead of looking for samples blindly, criminologists will be able to see places where a lot of genetic material has accumulated.
The dye will allow not only to estimate the amount of DNA left, but also to determine who was the last to touch an object at the crime scene. This is a direct indication of the traces of a possible criminal.
Experiments involving 11 people who left 264 handprints showed that the amount of genetic material that we lose is an individual and constant value. For example, men on average leave more DNA traces than women, notes CNET (Researchers can now measure DNA we 'shed' to solve crimes). And the best source of genetic material is the thumb. These findings will make it possible to use information about DNA found at the crime scene more effectively.
According to scientists, now one touch of the door handle will be enough to put the police on the trail of the attacker. If the fingerprint is unsuitable for fingerprinting, the criminal will be exposed by a DNA test. The researchers have already offered their methodology to investigators around the world.
Experts from the company Parabon Nanolabs, which cooperates with the police, are confident that soon investigators will be able to catch even those criminals whose DNA is not in the database. To do this, the genetic information of their relatives will be used.
DNA is playing an increasingly important role not only in solving trivial murders and thefts, but also in the fight against crimes against wildlife. For example, by taking genetic samples from smuggled elephant tusks, scientists have identified several supply channels and exposed poaching cartels. They hope that this information will send criminals to jail.
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