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Faster DNA Testing

tkjtkj writes "Physorg.com is reporting that a Rochester,NY, company, 'Thermal Gradients, Inc' has produced a new method of DNA analysis that can reduce the required time from hours to minutes that the usual 'Polymerase Chain Reacion' (PCR) takes to produce the large quantity of sample DNA needed to identify the donor. This could,conceivably, make "Instant DNA Identification" a reality! Will air travel now require one to arrive at the airport 5 minutes earlier than usual, to provide a skin-swab sample before boarding the plane?"

12 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Your DNA by Jozer99 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your DNA says you don't have a bomb, so go right ahead and board! Have a nice day!

    1. Re:Your DNA by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not to mention the idea that the powers that be already have all of our dna on file so they know who is good...

      "Been there, done that." -- Santa Claus

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  2. In a word.... by conteXXt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Probably.

    --
    The truth about Led Zep should never be told on /. (Karma suicide ensues)
  3. popular application by Douglas+Simmons · · Score: 4, Funny
    Sometimes I envision doomsday scenarios, like getting a call from a pro-life booty-call saying she's having my baby, but my homies done seen her 'round the block. Dig?

    Picture your own scenario. A paternity test is probably the most hostile confrontational gesture one could make toward a woman with whom one's engaged in a relationship; but sometimes, let's face it, it has to be done. What would make this less confrontational would be if DNA testing was quick and easy, not a whole to-do schlep. Just like signing a pre-nup in a world where lawyers weren't needed for that.

    So if paternity testing could be relegated to a "By the way, would you mind" kind of matter, the greater piece of mind could-be dads would have jumping into a shotgun wedding. In short, the quicker we can tweak up the ol' Polymerase Chain Reacion, the more red state skanks we can get with safely.

    1. Re:popular application by Anonymous+Cowpat · · Score: 2, Funny

      hah! the CSI people won't be behind the times like that.
      They'll get the results before they put the DNA sample in the machine!

      --
      FGD 135
  4. acid trip by digitaldc · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry, but you are not allowed to bring acid of any kind on board, not even Deoxyribonucleic.

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  5. Re:Only 5 minutes?? by Stevyn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Jeez, have you no imagination?

    Here's how a system could work. You load people one by one on a conveyor belt. As they move along, you take a blood, hair, or semen sample. Then a machine quickly and painlessly prints a temporary barcode on their forehead. Then they continue to move along the conveyor belt.

    In about 5 minutes, the DNA is determined and compared against a database of known Un-Americans. At this time, a laser barcode reader down the line scans each head and if an enemy of the state is found, they are quickly escorted off either by trained guards or another piece of machinery for re-classification.

    So what's the problem? Barcodes and conveyor belts have been around for years.

  6. Re:Only 5 minutes?? by yerfatma · · Score: 4, Funny
    As they move along, you take a blood, hair, or semen sample.

    It takes 5 minutes? Must require two semen samples.

  7. Chifrudo by praedictus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Jones family to service desk please! Congratulations Mr. Jones, the oldest child is yours, the other two have different fathers, but we managed to locate one, he's coincidentally on the same flight as yours. Flight 3485 now boarding, have an nice flight!

    --
    Watashi wa chikyubutsurigakusha desu.
  8. AYB-PABTU by mjpaci · · Score: 2, Funny

    OK...

    all your base-pairs are belong to us?

  9. Re:Only 5 minutes?? by Bob3141592 · · Score: 2, Funny

    In about 5 minutes, the DNA is determined and compared against a database of known Un-Americans. At this time, a laser barcode reader down the line scans each head and if an enemy of the state is found, they are quickly escorted off either by trained guards or another piece of machinery for re-classification.

    That's terribly inefficient, since you already have a laser trained on their head. If the person is known to be Un-American, just up the power. Seeing the head of one terrorist instantly vaporized will make the other four terrorists behind him think twice, which is about all the time they'll have until the laser points at them.

    Sure, maybe the system wil make the occassional mistake, unheading an innocent grandmother or child, but you can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs, right?

    --
    In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
  10. In defence of pro-life red state skanks... by mosel-saar-ruwer · · Score: 2, Funny


    Sometimes I envision doomsday scenarios, like getting a call from a pro-life booty-call saying she's having my baby, but my homies done seen her 'round the block... In short, the quicker we can tweak up the ol' Polymerase Chain Reacion, the more red state skanks we can get with safely.


    Alternatively, after she gives birth to that child of yours, you just might discover that that whole Miracle of Life thang has been given a undeservedly bum rap by the Culture of Death.