DNA chip is the future: Lalji

Andhra Pradesh




DNA chip is the future: Lalji







Staff Reporter





http://www.thehindu.com/2009/08/18/stories/2009081859720600.htm


Online edition of India's National Newspaper

Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009

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HYDERABAD: The next generation DNA microarray facility at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has the potential for developing DNA chips. These, when developed, would be instrumental in establishing identity of an individual at the entire genome level, said Lalji Singh, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow 2009 and former director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.



Explaining the significance of such a development, he said it would make the process of establishing a match between a biological sample found at a crime scene and the DNA of a suspect faster and simpler with the aid of a DNA chip. “This will be the ultimate technique based on the comparison at the total genome level. This is the future technology,” he told police trainees and researchers at the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA) here on Monday.



Dr. Lalji was taking part in the inaugural of a three-day, national-level training-cum-workshop on ‘DNA - The Decisive Evidence’ organised at APPA in association with Bioaxis DNA Research Centre, a city-based research organisation.



The workshop was significant in view of the fact that DNA bill is in the process of being enacted by the Parliament this year. When implemented, the bill, which has a provision for post conviction testing of DNA, would be a boon for convicts/under trials who were falsely convicted/accused for lack of proper evidence, according to C.N. Gopinatha Reddy, Additional DGP and Director of APPA.



Dr. Lalji stressed on the importance of collecting swab samples from victims of rape and storing them. “DNA testing can establish identities of even multiple rapists,” Dr. Lalji informed senior police officers. Earlier he threw light on how DNA analysis was employed to gather evidence in prominent cases like Rajiv Gandhi assassination, Beant Singh assassination case, Tandoor murder case, Swamy Premananda case etc. He also spoke about the evolution of DNA analysis techniques.



“DNA analysis will be one of the best investigating and evidence tool,” said Dr. Reddy. “It might be Greek and Latin for some of you but we must also learn Greek and Latin. We should at least have minimum knowledge about this scientific investigating tool,” he told the police trainees. The function was attended by many senior police officials.