DNA news - 08/05/07
Police Want to Collect Abandoned DNA from Everyone by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei, Eye on DNA
This morning I spent a couple of hours at my local West London high road shopping and hanging out at the park with my kindergartener. Little did I know that the police could have been following my every move, collecting my fingerprints, DNA, footwear impressions, photographs, and other samples that I might have left behind on discarded drink bottles or candy wrappers. I say “could have been” because the scenario is unlikely. For now.
The UK Home Office is planning to give police the power to collect DNA samples off anything on the street without first arresting and bringing the suspect in to a police station. That means they can collect your DNA without your knowledge from any bodily samples you leave behind in public. Police in the US have been secretly collecting “abandoned” DNA from suspects for some time to convict criminals who might have never been caught otherwise….
Mendel’s Garden #17: Blog Carnival of Genetics, Science Roll
This time, it’s the honor of Scienceroll to host Mendel’s Garden, the blog carnival totally devoted to all the fields of genetics. I thought I couldn’t find enough articles as most of the bloggers were on their vacation. But I have to share 30(!) blogposts with you and as I would like to make it easier to go through all the submissions, I also present some funny videos on genetics. Enjoy and welcome in Mendel’s Garden!
(includes an amusing YouTube Mendel rap.)
