Crime fighting germs
This from Sandra Tsing Loh at KPCC's Loh Down on Science:
University of Colorado found that the collection of 150 or so microbe species living on a person's hand are different from the germs on any other hand. Our germs, like fingerprints or DNA, are a form of ID.
The scientists recently lifted bacterial colonies from computer keyboards used by one volunteer from a group. After comparing the germy DNA to the germy DNA of everyone in the group, the researchers identified the computer's user.
It's like Clue!
When the researchers compared their samples to the Human Skin Microbiome project - a big database of people and germs? The positive-ID held up. They could still finger their suspects.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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