A complex in Riverdale, New Jersey is putting DNA to a good new use... Figuring out which residents aren't cleaning up after their dogs!
All residents of this condo complex will be required to give a mouth swab of their dog by November 1st. From there, when one resident does not pick up after their animal, the feces will be sent to a lab called "PooPrints" in Tennessee.
Who ever has the dog that has the DNA match to the feces, gets fined.
Seems like this apartment is adamant. Who would have thought of a company like "PooPrints" though?
Just one of the many new uses of DNA lately!
(This was my second article this week; so, that's why it is kind of out there!)
Article in FS Magazine
Monday, September 30, 2013
DNA of an Infected Wolf Found to be a Match to a Teen that was Bitten
A teenager was recently bitten by a wolf at a campground in Minnesota.
What does this have to do with molecular biology, you ask?
A DNA comparison was done on the wolf (that was captured and killed) and a comforter that the teen had used to stop the blood. The comparison proved to be a match indicating that the investigators had found the correct wolf.
So, why was this such a big deal that investigators were insistent to find the wolf? Well, wolves are not known to rummage for food close to areas of human activity. Moreover, they are not likely to come close enough to humans to bite them.
A pathologist/veterinarian decided to do a necropsy on the wolf. He learned that the wolf had facial abnormalities, dental abnormalities, and brain damage. This caused an infection in the wolf that made the wolf do things that were out of character. It did not go into much detail as to what the infection was or what exact part of the brain was physically/chemically altered, but this is still an interesting find.
The teen was ok and did not gain any harmful illnesses from the wolf.
I find the most random articles the most interesting. :]]
Link:
DNA Test Confirms Identity of Wolf that Bit Teen
What does this have to do with molecular biology, you ask?
A DNA comparison was done on the wolf (that was captured and killed) and a comforter that the teen had used to stop the blood. The comparison proved to be a match indicating that the investigators had found the correct wolf.
So, why was this such a big deal that investigators were insistent to find the wolf? Well, wolves are not known to rummage for food close to areas of human activity. Moreover, they are not likely to come close enough to humans to bite them.
A pathologist/veterinarian decided to do a necropsy on the wolf. He learned that the wolf had facial abnormalities, dental abnormalities, and brain damage. This caused an infection in the wolf that made the wolf do things that were out of character. It did not go into much detail as to what the infection was or what exact part of the brain was physically/chemically altered, but this is still an interesting find.
The teen was ok and did not gain any harmful illnesses from the wolf.
I find the most random articles the most interesting. :]]
Link:
DNA Test Confirms Identity of Wolf that Bit Teen
Monday, September 23, 2013
Obtaining Touch DNA Using a.... Vacuum
The body of a young girl was recently found submerged in water for, what investigators believe to be, eight to ten hours. They began to investigate a homicide with the possibility of a sexual assault.
Initial swabbing of the girl's underwear and genital area provided no DNA.
The investigators then decided to try using the M-Vac System to vacuum up possible cells in areas on the underwear where they believed the perpetrator may have touched in order to pull the underwear down.
Surprise, surprise-- they obtained enough cells to make a DNA profile.
This has started to catch the attention of many facilities because the M-Vac System may prove to be a new, innovative way to collect DNA that would have never been possible to obtain in the past.
Interesting to see the direction technology has been heading towards in the Forensic field lately...
Link to Article:
Touch DNA on Clothing
More information on the M-Vac System as to what it looks like and how it works:
M-Vac | M-Vac Systems, Inc
Initial swabbing of the girl's underwear and genital area provided no DNA.
The investigators then decided to try using the M-Vac System to vacuum up possible cells in areas on the underwear where they believed the perpetrator may have touched in order to pull the underwear down.
Surprise, surprise-- they obtained enough cells to make a DNA profile.
This has started to catch the attention of many facilities because the M-Vac System may prove to be a new, innovative way to collect DNA that would have never been possible to obtain in the past.
Interesting to see the direction technology has been heading towards in the Forensic field lately...
Link to Article:
Touch DNA on Clothing
More information on the M-Vac System as to what it looks like and how it works:
M-Vac | M-Vac Systems, Inc
Quicker Identification of Mass Disaster Victim's Using New DNA Techniques
I just had to write a blog on this. It's in today's issue of Forensic Science Magazine, and involves Sam Houston State University's Forensic Science Professors!
Our professors that work at the STAFS facility, mainly Dr. Hughes-Stamm and Dr. Gangitano, just obtained a grant to do research on better ways to preserve DNA after a mass disaster along with identifying the DNA quicker.
Their research will consist of testing different "home made" and commercial solutions in hopes of finding a solution that tissue samples can be placed in without out being affected by climate conditions. If this can be done, DNA will last much longer, in return having a longer readability. DNA genotyping and the process of identifying DNA would take considerably less time if this research proves to be successful.
Here's the link:
Sam Houston State to Research Quicker Identification of Mass Disaster Victims
Our professors that work at the STAFS facility, mainly Dr. Hughes-Stamm and Dr. Gangitano, just obtained a grant to do research on better ways to preserve DNA after a mass disaster along with identifying the DNA quicker.
Their research will consist of testing different "home made" and commercial solutions in hopes of finding a solution that tissue samples can be placed in without out being affected by climate conditions. If this can be done, DNA will last much longer, in return having a longer readability. DNA genotyping and the process of identifying DNA would take considerably less time if this research proves to be successful.
Here's the link:
Sam Houston State to Research Quicker Identification of Mass Disaster Victims
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Rapid DNA Technology to Help Agencies out Immediately
IntegenX plans to unveil their new RapidHIT DNA system in hopes to help out criminal agencies with DNA profiling.
This new system will allow agencies to run up to five DNA profiles, along with a positive and negative control, in about ninety minutes. Even better- the prep time is only about five minutes. The best part- all of this can be done within the time that the suspect is in custody!
So, what all can this new machine do? It fully automates and integrates the steps needed to run the full DNA test. It also can link up to previous DNA databases that already have DNA information from people and crime scenes.
I think it is great that IntegenX is trying to allow agencies access to this new equipment that is easy to use and very vital for crimes involving DNA, which may not be easy to work with for people that are unexperienced in DNA technology.
Link to Article
This new system will allow agencies to run up to five DNA profiles, along with a positive and negative control, in about ninety minutes. Even better- the prep time is only about five minutes. The best part- all of this can be done within the time that the suspect is in custody!
So, what all can this new machine do? It fully automates and integrates the steps needed to run the full DNA test. It also can link up to previous DNA databases that already have DNA information from people and crime scenes.
I think it is great that IntegenX is trying to allow agencies access to this new equipment that is easy to use and very vital for crimes involving DNA, which may not be easy to work with for people that are unexperienced in DNA technology.
Link to Article
Monday, September 16, 2013
A Way to Match DNA Without Using Extraction
Adrian Linacre and his team, of Flinders University in Australia, have been the first group to get DNA from a single hair--- not from extraction though. This team used free DNA that is found floating in loose material and copied the DNA using standard lab procedures (such as PCR).
Why is this a new, vital part of forensic science? They can completely skip DNA extraction when using free DNA causing much less problems. Also, they are able to pull free DNA from small samples that would usually get lost during extraction.
Just how available is free DNA at crime scenes? As stated before, it can be found on a single strand of hair. It can also be found on fabric that has been touched with sweat for only 15 seconds. Imagine all the other possible places it will be found in the future and what this means for forensics and the criminal justice system!
Here is the link, it is a very short article:
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Antibiotics Doing More Damage to you Than to Bacteria?
We all know that antibiotics are made to help you with hopefully minimal side effects, but what if the antibiotic is actually doing more damage to you than to the bacteria?
Recently, a group of scientists learned that antibiotics used to kill bacteria may also be penetrating the mitochondria and ultimately leaving harmful effects. It seems to only make sense though considering mitochondria are said to have come from bacteria.
How does this happen? It is currently believed that the antibiotic causes a high increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a possible means to kill the bacteria. The problem- the ROS also attacks at the mitochondria leaving the mitochondria less efficient.
Furthermore, when antibiotics that only stop bacterial growth are tested, the mitochondria are not changed.
Scientists do say that these kinds of extremely harmful effects are more so geared towards individuals constantly on heavy antibiotics. Ones who do not take antibiotics often, are less likely to have any severe damage.
Currently, studies are still being done to obtain more information. Also, studies involved with combining antioxidants, used to suppress ROS, and antibiotics are being done.
Just a small article that I found interesting...
Link to article in "The Scientist"
Recently, a group of scientists learned that antibiotics used to kill bacteria may also be penetrating the mitochondria and ultimately leaving harmful effects. It seems to only make sense though considering mitochondria are said to have come from bacteria.
How does this happen? It is currently believed that the antibiotic causes a high increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a possible means to kill the bacteria. The problem- the ROS also attacks at the mitochondria leaving the mitochondria less efficient.
Furthermore, when antibiotics that only stop bacterial growth are tested, the mitochondria are not changed.
Scientists do say that these kinds of extremely harmful effects are more so geared towards individuals constantly on heavy antibiotics. Ones who do not take antibiotics often, are less likely to have any severe damage.
Currently, studies are still being done to obtain more information. Also, studies involved with combining antioxidants, used to suppress ROS, and antibiotics are being done.
Just a small article that I found interesting...
Link to article in "The Scientist"
Monday, September 9, 2013
Using mRNA as a New Basis for Heart Repair?
I read an interesting article, on Science Daily, on a new research of heart repair, mainly after a myocardial infarction, using synthetic mRNA.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and Harvard University have taken one step closer to finding a new way for the heart to repair itself. Instead of the traditional way of introducing new cells into the heart to build cardiac muscle, this new way explores injecting the heart with synthetic mRNA to trigger the native stem cells in the heart to start making new coronary vessels as if it were a fetal heart all over again.
This seems like a great, new way to help victims of heart attack if it proves to be successful, but of course it is still fairly new with many downsides:
1. It has only been tested on rats
2. They are just now moving towards testing it on other animals
3. Until it is tried on a human, scientists will never know exactly how well it does or does not work for the ultimate target species
4. A specific catheter is still trying to be made for perfect injection
5. The injection must be done within 48 hours of the heart attack to be successful
6. The injection will not work unless it is injected exactly in the location of the heart progenators
7. Very specific synthetic mRNA must be made to be able to hide from the immune system
With currently more cons than pros, would you say the researchers should continue moving forward? If so, what other tester animals would you use to dodge ethical/moral concerns? Also, how should they go about testing it on humans once they get to that stage?
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