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Home Headlines

Blood Extracted By Mosquitoes Could Solve Crimes Up To Two Days Later

July 11, 2017
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A new weapon in the fight against crime has been uncovered by a Japanese team of forensic scientists.

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Researchers have discovered that DNA found in blood sucked out of a human by a mosquito can be identified up to two days later.

The finding could enable investigators to use this new form of evidence to solve murders and other serious crimes.

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have discovered that DNA found in blood sucked out of a human by a mosquito can be identified up to two days later.   Scientists asked seven volunteers to let mosquitoes bite them. They then allowed the mosquitoes to digest the blood for varying lengths of time.Using a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) they then examined the results.They found that 48 hours was the maximum length of time after which this was possible.After three days, the blood completely broke down. The finding could one day enable investigators to use this new form of evidence to solve murders and other serious crimes.

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan made the discovery after asking seven volunteers to let mosquitoes bite them.

Until now, it had not been known how long human blood drawn by the creatures would retain an identifiable DNA profile.

The team allowed the mosquitoes to digest the blood for varying lengths of time, before attempting to extract the human DNA.

Using a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a standard tool in forensics for amplifying a tiny DNA fragment up to thousands of times, they then examined the results.

‘Ours is the first study to systematically apply modern DNA profiling techniques to the challenging forensic analysis of mosquito blood meal’, said lead scientist Toshimichi Yamamoto in a written statement.

‘We hope this will help crime scene investigators collect reliable evidence that could be used to guide investigations and support convictions.

‘We need to take some steps to improve our methods and obtain more data.

‘With more accurate quantification methods, we might be able to estimate the time after mosquitoes’ blood feeding with even greater accuracy.

‘In the future, it might provide evidence that can be used to convict offenders.’

The researchers found that they could accurately match the minuscule blood traces to the volunteers who had offered themselves up as a meal, even after two days of digestion in a mosquito’s stomach.

But they found that 48 hours was the maximum length of time after which this was possible.

After three days, the blood completely broke down.

The experiments were performed with two species, Culex pipiens pallens and Aedes albopictus, both found throughout much of the tropical and sub-tropical world.

Most mosquitoes do not travel beyond a radius of a few hundred metres.

Depending on the species, they have lifespans ranging from a few days to a couple months.

Females, the ones that bite, generally live far longer than males.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS One.

HAIR STRANDS COULD SOLVE BAFFLING MURDERS FROM THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGOAnalysis of hair fibres could provide private investigators with vital information about the personal lives of criminals. Forensic hair analysis can reveal a person’s age, sex, weight, diet and exercise habits and could potentially solve crimes that happened thousands of years ago.After previously going out of fashion, a new form of testing could make using hair a mainstay of criminal investigations and could resolve baffling mysteries of the past.Forensic hair analysis relies on microscopic examination of hair colour, thickness and curvature to identify suspects and link them to crime scenes. Emerging hair analysis techniques could reveal vital information about crime suspects, according to professor of Forensic and Investigative Science Glen Jackson from West Virginia UniversityCritics have long argued that hair analysis is subjective and not as reliable as people think.A recent review conducted by the US Department of Justice found that 90 per cent of hair examiners’ testimonies in criminal trials contained erroneous statements. Instead, DNA testing is the current gold standard in criminal cases.Using liquid chromatography in conjunction with isotope ratio mass spectrometry, researchers can now measure the ratio of isotopes with the 21 amino acids found in keratin, which is what hair is primarily made of. Using this new approach, scientists have identified 15 isotope ratio measurements that could yield important information about certain lifestyle habits of individuals.The hair shaft will last thousands of years in a dry environment meaning experts could solve historic crimes.

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Tags: BiologyBiotechnologyChikungunyaDNADNA profilingForensic geneticsForensic scienceGlen JacksonHair analysisLaw_Crimelead scientistMolecular biologymosquitoNagoya UniversityNagoya University in JapanNaturePLoS OnePolymerase chain reactionprofessor of Forensic and Investigative Science Glen JacksonToshimichi YamamotoUS Department of JusticeWest Virginia

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