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Hand bacteria may help solve criminal cases--study
by Jaspreet Virk - March 16, 2010 - comments
For their study, the researchers used the gene-sequencing techniques to compare the bacteria found on keyboards of the personal computers and mouses with those found on the hands using these devices.
Forensic scientists have so far traced criminal through their finger prints left on the stuff they touched. Soon the investigators will also be able to use the bacteria left behind after touching a surface to catch criminals, a new study states.
In a study published in the journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,’ researchers have stated that each person has a unique trail of bacteria which are left behind, and these are to be used by forensic scientists to solve criminal cases.
The findings may specifically help in solving cases where criminals wear gloves, wipe away their prints and destroy all evidence, which may reveal their identity.
Human body host to billions of bacteria
The researchers have realized that human body is colonized with billions of bacteria.
There are more bacteria in human body than there are cells. These are present both inside and outside the body, stated Noah Fierer, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and also the lead author of the study.
Further, this colonization varies from person to person. Even the place on the body where they occur differs from individual to individual.
The bacterial DNA, wiped from hands, and left at a room temperature, could survive for two weeks.
Details of the study
For their study, Fierer and his colleagues used the gene-sequencing techniques to compare the bacteria found on keyboards of the personal computers and mouses with those found on the hands, using these devices.
In the first test, the researchers swabbed the bacteria from three personal computers’ keyboards and compared them with bacteria found on people’s hands, using those keyboards.
They also compared the swabbed bacteria with random sample from individuals who had never touched these keyboards.
The researchers found that the bacteria on the computer matched more closely with the bacteria on the hands than with random samples.
In the second test, the researchers used the bacteria from the nine computer mouses, which had not been touched for more than 12 hours, and compared them with bacterial DNA taken from the hands of computer owners.
They also compared these with the random samples from hands that had not touched these mouses. Again the researchers found more similarity between the bacteria swabbed and the bacteria on the hands of individuals who touched the mouses, than the random samples.
In the third test, the researchers found that the bacterial DNA, wiped from hands, and left at a room temperature, could survive for two weeks.
The researchers stated that the study is in a preliminary stage but added that the technique could help forensic investigators track down criminals.