The Hindu : Karnataka News : DNA centre inaugurated

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Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

DNA centre inaugurated

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: A DNA centre has been set up at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to conduct genetic fingerprinting to assist in criminal and civil cases. The centre is one of just 15 such centres in the country with the expertise.

The DNA centre, established through a memorandum of understanding between the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories and the Centre for Human Genetics (CHG), was inaugurated here on Thursday by K.R. Srinivasan, Director-General and Inspector-General of Police.

While the establishment cost of the centre was Rs. 4 crore (with funds from both the Centre and State Government), the running costs will be greater by far owing to the high costs of kits and chemicals used in DNA analysis, said B.M. Mohan, Director, FSL. “The centre will have the capacity to profile DNA using the polymerase chain reaction technique, which amplifies fragments of DNA. Scientists from FSL and CHG will be part of the core group,” he added.

DNA fingerprinting will assist in identifying perpetrators of rape and murder, in bringing closure to paternity/ maternity disputes and with immigration among several other cases, Dr. Mohan said. Speaking on the occasion, H. Sharat Chandra, Director CHG said that there was a dire need for more laboratories and experts in forensic DNA analysis. “The United States, with a third of our population has 120 labs. We have just 15, and fewer than 40 trained DNA analysts. With 90,000 cases surfacing every year, we need at least 50 labs and 2000 examiners,” he said, adding that he envisaged a need for a total investment of Rs. 2,300 crore in the area of forensic DNA analysis.

Lalji Singh, Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, said that the police and investigators must also be trained in scientific methods of evidence collection.

“The DNA lab should also gear itself for predictive and preventive medicine, which is going to be the medicine of the future,” he said.

A Centre for Brain Science Forensics, with the facility to conduct brain mapping and narco-analysis will be up and running in two years, said Dr. Mohan. The State Government has sanctioned Rs. 6 crore for the centre, he added. “Brain-mapping tests are conducted using sensors placed on the individual’s head, which measure brain impulses in response to external stimuli,” explained R. Sri Kumar, Director-General of Police and chairman and managing director, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Limited. The stimuli – pictures or sound – are generally associated with the crime scene.

Narco-analysis on the other hand involves drawing information from suspects using a form of anaesthesia, he said.

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