Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Bugs on a Person's Hand can Act Like Fingerprints to Nab Criminals | |
|
| |
Our fingers are home to a unique collection of bacteria that get left on surfaces we touch.
According to a report in New Scientist, by comparing bugs found on a person's hand to those recovered at a crime scene, you might be able identify the perpetrator.
"There are certain situations where human DNA analysis or standard fingerprinting doesn't work, maybe this is just another tool," said Noah Fierer, a microbiologist at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
His team knew that microbial communities on skin tend to be unique to the individual and change little over time.
To see if these qualities could be applied to forensics, his team swabbed several computer keyboards and the fingertips of their users, then identified about 1400 different kinds of bacteria living on each, using DNA sequencing.
The keyboard bacteria closely matched their owner's fingertips.
In another test, Fierer's team were able to correctly match nine computer mice with their owners.
The "microbeprint" seems to be long-lasting: swabs left at room temperature for two weeks could be matched to their owners.
"But accuracy issues mean you won't see them used in court just yet," Fierer said.
Source-ANI
RAS
| |
|
|
More News on: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
 Comment & Contribute
|
Related Links
DNA Finger Printing
DNA fingerprinting is a technique which helps forensic scientists and legal experts solve crimes, identity thefts, legal suits and terrorism ...
Husband Cools His Heels in Jail After Kidnapping Wife from Hospital
James McCarthy was vehemently against his wife's decision to undergo breast enlargement surgery. But he carried this desire too far. McCarthy, 27, ...
Effects on Breast Tumors of DNA Alternations in 3 Genes Described
Cancer epidemiologists at the University at Buffalo have identified specific genes that are most likely to become cancer promoters when exposed to ...
General News
Elephantiasis Worm Infection Detected Easily By New Test
According to results of a field study in Liberia, in West Africa, where the infection is endemic, a new diagnostic test for a worm infection that can ...
Resistance to Last-line Antibiotic Makes Bacteria Resistant to Immune System: Study
According to a study in mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, bacteria resistant to the antibiotic ...
Nationwide Study Maps Atherosclerotic Disease Heredity
The significance of heredity for common forms of atherosclerotic disease was mapped by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. No studies have ...
New Tool for Faster, Specific and Accurate Testing of Probiotics Products Unveiled By CosmosID
Results of an analysis of labeling claims for the composition of probiotic products comparing speed, specificity, and accuracy were reported by ...
Source of Infection Affects Hospital Mortality in Septic Shock Patients in the ICU: Study
According to a new study from researchers in Canada, in ICU patients who have septic shock, the anatomic source of infection has a strong effect on ...
Summer Travel Tips from Hotel Bookings Expert
If you are planning to go on a summer vacation, be well-equipped, avoid overloading bags and over-exerting yourself, other than carrying stylish ...
- Health News Index
- News Quick Links
 | News Central | | Health Watch | |
| Latest Health News | | Health In Focus | |
| News Category (500+) | | Breaking Health News | |
| Popular News | | Celebrating Life | |
| Health News and Press Release | | Medindia - Exclusive | |
| News Photo Gallery | | India Special | |
| News Video Gallery | | Lifestyle and Wellness | |
| News From Other Resources | |||
| News Categories: |
| » | Susceptibility to E. Coli Infection may be Increased by High Fiber Diets |
| » | Mother’s Diet During Pregnancy Determines Likelihood of Obesity and Heart Disease in Future Life |
| » | Mediterranean Diet Boosts Ageing Brain Power |
| » | Eating Disorders on the Rise |
| » | 24 Karat Gold Tea Introduced |
| More Diet News | |
|
Ask an Expert
