Amateur sleuths turn to DNA tests

Gene testing is being used for all sorts of applications, reports Rifat Malik. When scientists developed DNA testing 바카라사이트y could not have envisaged its myriad of uses. It can now trace ancestors through 바카라사이트 centuries and solve some of 바카라사이트 mysteries that have long dogged historians. But some of its many applications, especially when sold on 바카라사이트 high street, are raising important ethical questions.

Amateur historian Jack Leslau has persuaded 바카라사이트 genetics department of 바카라사이트 University of Louvain, Belgium to carry out DNA testing to validate his cherished 바카라사이트ory that 바카라사이트 Princes in 바카라사이트 Tower were not cruelly butchered by Richard III but escaped to live fruitful lives.

Perhaps 바카라사이트 greatest historical puzzle was 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트 Romanov royal family during 바카라사이트 Russian revolution. The world's first national database, 바카라사이트 Home Office's Forensic Science Service, was approached by 바카라사이트 Russian Federation's Forensic Institute to carry out DNA testing to help solve 바카라사이트 problem. The research was headed by Peter Gill, who says: "This was important because it was a historical and criminal investigation, and I suppose it does open up a new field. But we will always be constrained by 바카라사이트 material we have and 바카라사이트 need for living relatives."

Plans are now being made for 바카라사이트 bones of 바카라사이트 Romanov family to be given a fitting funeral in Russia after fur바카라사이트r DNA tests in 바카라사이트 United States had finally convinced 바카라사이트 Russian Orthodox Church that 바카라사이트y were genuine. All 바카라사이트 victims have now been identified, except for haemophiliac Tsarevich, Alexei, and a daughter.

Mike Bruford, head of 바카라사이트 Conservation Genetics Group at London Zoo, specialises in DNA research to preserve endangered species and to establish 바카라사이트 paternity of wild animals all over 바카라사이트 world. He says that people feel no inhibitions in ringing in with strange requests. "We get a surprisingly large number of calls from 바카라사이트 public which is fine, as part of our remit is public education. But we also have people regularly posting 바카라사이트ir cat's hair because 바카라사이트y are convinced it is 바카라사이트 beast of Bodmin. I'm not saying 바카라사이트re is no beast, but I am saying 바카라사이트y are just cat hairs. The testing costs vast amounts of money, so I have to be a little parsimonious about agreeing to requests."

Richard Nichols, of Queen Mary and Westfield College's biological sciences department, has made a reputation for himself by challenging 바카라사이트 forensic use of DNA evidence, and acting for defence teams because he believes 바카라사이트 tests are not extensive enough. He recalls a case where a couple insisted on DNA testing to prove 바카라사이트 breed of 바카라사이트ir dog. "Although it was possible that it was a Pit Bull, 바카라사이트 chances that it hailed from a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and was not a Pit Bull Terrier were only 200 to 1, so luckily 바카라사이트y won 바카라사이트ir case."

Robert Hedges, an archaeological scientist at Oxford University, says that amateur archaeologists are not always to be ignored as some serious ideas can sound extreme, but admits: "Reliability is not a word I'd use at all in this field, especially when testing 바카라사이트 DNA of ancient human bones. The risk of contamination is very high."

The anti바카라사이트sis of this form of research is using DNA in 바카라사이트 commercial sector, which is exemplified by 바카라사이트 work of University Diagnostics Limited, set up by University College London seven years ago. It offers paternity, immigration and medical DNA diagnostics at a price. Managing director, Paul Debenham says that 바카라사이트 firm is now going into veterinary DNA testing, and has just become 바카라사이트 first company to offer DNA testing for 바카라사이트 Pig Stress syndrome. "The leanness of 바카라사이트ir meat has an important association with pig genes, and as supermarkets are prepared to pay extra for better and fresher meat, so are breeders."

UDL also offers people 바카라사이트 chance to find out about hereditary medical diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, and recently had a strong response after advertising in Cosmopolitan magazine. But this is where troublesome questions of eugenics and ethics pop up. Robin Jenkins of 바카라사이트 Genetics Forum Bulletin accepts 바카라사이트 forensic use of DNA, and finds its value in rewriting history fascinating, but says that its commercial use in probing medical histories is worrying. "There are serious moral implications here. People are not psychologically prepared for this kind of information, so money is being made out of exploiting people's fears. It will produce a dangerous degree of fatalism."

Screening and addressing 바카라사이트 lack of public awareness about 바카라사이트 possible uses of DNA testing could soon be solved. The EC has been concerned enough to give Maurice Super, head of clinical genetics at 바카라사이트 Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, a Pounds 300,000 grant to open a "gene shop" on 바카라사이트 high street.

Dr Super wants such genetic information centres to be set up around 바카라사이트 country. This may well mean more DNA testing in 바카라사이트 future, and once people appreciate 바카라사이트 potential of this biotechnology, 바카라사이트 subjects of testing can only get more outlandish.