Florida: A study has found that wherever a person goes, be it a sandy beach or a hospital room, he leaves his DNA.
Researchers at the University of Florida examined samples collected from the environment in the United States and Ireland.
Researchers studying endangered sea turtles using environmental DNA extracted from beach soil said the DNA was of such high quality that scientists could identify disease-linked mutations. and could determine the genetic ancestry of nearby populations.
These advances in DNA can also be used to help locate missing persons and link criminals to crime scenes.
Professor David Duffy of the University of Florida said that these DNA samples can be helpful in the field of medical and environmental to archeology and criminal forensics. For example, researchers can detect cancer variants in wastewater or hidden human DNA from archaeological sites. Or investigators can identify suspects from DNA floating in the air at a crime scene.
The ability of scientists to access and analyze genetic data from human DNA from all these places also raises critical ethical questions about consent, privacy and security of our biological information. .
The researchers warn that this discovery could be used to obtain DNA-based information about different individuals and trace their movements to specific areas.
The research, conducted by Professor Duffy and his colleagues, was published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
