We all know the police use DNA profiling on humans in their fight against crime, but now it seems they’ve found another way to catch criminals: by DNA testing cat fur!
An extensive database is currently being created by a team of international scientists, with the aim of providing accurate forensic evidence through the use of cat and other pet fur. It may sound crazy, but one case has already proven the idea’s worth:
Fluffy the cat proved to be the key to locking up his owner’s killer – second degree murderer, Douglas Beamish, from Canada – after DNA tests proved Fluffy’s hair was found on the perpetrator’s jacket, having been transported unwittingly from the scene of the murder where it had become attached to his pocket. The killer is now serving fifteen years in prison, and all thanks to Fluffy!
Robert Grahn, author of a paper accepted for publication in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics, says:
“The increasing popularity of the domestic cat as a household pet has unknowingly fostered the distribution of potential crime scene evidence across millions of households. Cat fur obtained from a crime scene has the potential to link perpetrators, accomplices, witnesses and victims.”
Other researchers, including John Butler, a group leader at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, agree that cat and other pet fur can and will play a huge part in the investigation of serious crime, saying:
“An assailant may unknowingly carry clinging cat hairs from a victim’s cat away from the scene of a crime, or hair from the perpetrator’s cat may be left at the scene. Either scenario may provide a crucial link and help solve an important case.”
Researchers are currently in the process of analysing DNA from dog fur with the same aim; an additional database will be set up for canine DNA results.
Source: http://news.discovery.com/animals/cat-fur-forensics-crime.html
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User Comments
B Nelson
On March 19, 2010 at 11:00 am
I kept thinking, I sure hope Fluffy found a good home after the loss of his owner…
CaSundara
On March 19, 2010 at 11:43 am
Yes, me too…
I’m sure he/she must have been pleased to have played a part in bringing the guy to justice.
Katien
On March 19, 2010 at 12:08 pm
It sounds good in theory, but then people might start planting cat hairs on people to frame them!
CaSundara
On March 19, 2010 at 1:07 pm
@ Katien – I didn’t think of that, but you’re absolutely right! I wonder if they’ve considered it…
martie
On March 19, 2010 at 3:09 pm
They just convicted a guy whose dog’s DNA was used to put him at the scene of the crime.
diamondpoet
On March 19, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I told my husband cat were good for something. Great article and interesting information.
Bo Jack Russo
On March 21, 2010 at 12:49 pm
At first I thought this was a joke, had no idea this happened for real, kind of cool, but I could see how this could be potentially taken advantage of.
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