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DNA Extraction From Fingerprints

Posted by michael on from the gattaca-wasn't-pessimistic-enough dept.

Myriad writes "A Canadian scientist has developed a new way of gathering DNA evidence for analysis using fingerprints. The new test can extract DNA in 15 minutes - even from a print stored for many years and in varying conditions. The patented extraction technique consistently produces ~10 nanograms of DNA. Analysis generally requires 5-10 nanograms, although it is possible with as little as 0.1 nanogram."

2 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This is good... by cybercyph · · Score: 5, Informative
    if you touch something, you're probably leaving behind sweat molecules and skin cells which contain your DNA

    partially correct. sweat molecules do not contain DNA...DNA is a seperate molecule. what they're getting the DNA from is the nucleus of any skin cells left behind
  2. Re:This is good... by capologist · · Score: 4, Informative

    You don't need a court order to collect and analyze DNA at all.

    You do need a warrant to forcibly extract DNA. However, if law enforcement officials find DNA at the crime scene, or anywhere else (without conducting an illegal search), they are permitted to analyze it and use it.