DNA evidence might not be as foolproof as once believed. For years, law enforcement officials have used DNA as a key source of evidence at crime scenes. But a new company specializing in forensic DNA analysis says DNA found at crime scenes can easily be falsified using basic equipment, know-how, and access to DNA or a DNA database.

 

Using standard molecular biology techniques, DNA fingerprints can be planted at crime scenes, the company, Nucleix writes in a paper published in Forensic Science International: Genetics. The company’s research demonstrated that current forensic procedures cannot distinguish between real and fake DNA evidence, according to the paper. Moreover, Nucleix showed that fake DNA samples that were profiled by a leading independent forensic laboratory were indistinguishable from real DNA.

 

Real DNA contains loci that are completely and consistently methylated and other loci that are unmethylated, differing from fake DNA, which is completely unmethylated, Nucleix notes. Methylation involves certain types of organic molecules that connect to DNA.

 

Nucleix has created a DNA authentication that it says distinguishes between real and fake DNA.

 

“We believe that DNA authentication should become an integral part of the standard forensic procedure in order to assure genuine biological material has been evaluated,” says Elon Ganor, Nucleix chairman, CEO, and co-founder, who adds the company’s  authentication technology can easily be integrated into the standard protocols currently performed in forensic laboratories to assure the authenticity of the DNA sample being genuine and not fabricated. “From our research in the forensic sciences community, we believe that this application of our technology to prevent 'biological identity theft' may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential for falsification of individual DNA.”