The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : 50 DNA profiling units to be set up by 2012

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Thursday, Feb 07, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

50 DNA profiling units to be set up by 2012

The proposal is expected to take shape by year-end

Less than 1,000 DNA profiling cases done annually
DNA profiling bill may be introduced in budget session

HYDERABAD: With an estimated 1,40,000 cases requiring DNA profiling annually in the country, a Rs.600-crore plan is on the anvil to establish 50 DNA laboratories in a mission-mode in different parts by 2012 as part of aiding the justice delivery system. The proposed units will function under the aegis of different central and state forensic institutions.

The accredited laboratories will be set up in a phased manner in the current plan with the Ministry of Home Affairs funding the expansion. The proposal being forwarded to the Planning Commission is expected to take shape by year-end, J. Gowrishankar, Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), told The Hindu here on Tuesday.

Training for examiners

He said that currently, less than 1,000 DNA profiling cases were being done annually by a few forensic labs.The CDFD would play a “catalytic role” in the expansion and impart training to 200 DNA examiners to be recruited in the new units.

Each of the 50 units would have four examiners. In all, 1,200 examiners would be required to meet the total case load of 1.2 lakh cases each year.

Dr. Gowrishankar said a DNA profiling bill seeking to fix standards and regulatory norms for DNA labs was being put up before the Union Cabinet. It was likely to be introduced in the coming budget session.

The legislation would also enable the creation of a national database containing DNA profiles of offenders and suspects as also establishment of a high-profile DNA Profiling Advisory Board (DPB).

The DPB, represented by all stakeholders, would serve as the authority to implement the provisions of the bill, including enforcing accreditation standards for DNA labs. It would also curb misuse of DNA profiling services.

The regulatory body’s secretariat would be housed in CDFD here.

Meanwhile, CDFD has started certification for genetically modified foods and GM-derived products by employing DNA markers. The markers have been developed for rice and cotton and would be devised for others too, Dr. Gowrishankar added.

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