Here you go
SARASOTA, Fla., Jun 7, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- DNAPrint (OTC Bulletin Board: DNAP) (the "Company") will now provide a suspect's genetic fingerprint to law enforcement agencies that use its DNAWitness test as an investigative tool. The combination of DNAWitness and the STRmap service promises to fill an important niche in the investigative process and represents one of the most powerful tools available to investigators.
Every person has within his or her genes a pattern of genetic variation that produces a fingerprint or barcode, which is unique to each person (unless they have an identical twin). Although the benchmark test method can determine whether the sample left at a crime scene was left by a previously identified felon, many samples can take up to one year to complete.
By offering the new STRmap service with each DNAWitness order, DNAPrint seeks to allow investigators to rapidly obtain an entirely free STR fingerprint for their crime scene sample, while at the same time, provide them the confidence that the ancestry profile determined by DNAWitness has come from the proper sample (to eliminate the possibility of laboratory error, or mix-up). In addition, with DNAPrint's forensics group currently receiving evidence from across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, the new service fulfills a Company need to ensure that the results match the sample.
While investigators will still need to run the STR test in an ASCLD accredited environment before it can be used in court to identify a suspect or obtain a warrant, the free and rapid STRmap service will allow DNAWitness customers to accelerate their CODIS database searching, often by days or weeks. This promises to be attractive for investigators because the time taken to identify could determine the difference between life and death in some cases. The new offering is designed to accelerate the already encouraging rate of adoption by law enforcement of DNAWitness service technology.
DNAWitness continues to shine light on the most likely ancestry mix for DNA samples left by unknown donors at crime scenes, described by us as, "DNA donors." The ancestry (sub Saharan African, East Asian, Indo-European and Native American) determined from most DNAWitness cases is predominantly of a single type, allowing the exclusion of other types. For example, 98% of one group would eliminate the three other groups. Since ancestry mix can be directly related to some characteristics of physical appearance, DNAWitness results can save valuable investigative time and money spent characterizing a crime scene and describing "interested parties or donors of DNA at the crime scene." The product can also be used to corroborate an eyewitness report, confirm a fuzzy video or shed light on a potential donor if no witnesses are available. In the event a DNA donor was known to the victim or the victim's family, the new STRmap service component of DNAWitness could help bring a quicker resolution, possibly assisting in the prevention of additional crimes.
"There is absolutely no question that DNAWitness and STRmap can help investigators shorten the lead to identification and along with other confirmatory ASCLD testing, lead to arrest, conviction and prosecution," said Richard Gabriel, CEO and President of DNAPrint genomics, Inc. "Our test is not a short cut for the investigative process -- investigators still need to do all the hard work of pulling the evidence together, and confirming that evidence so that it stands up to defense challenges -- but it sure can help focus an investigation. We are continuing to invest in our forensics products because it helps us build our knowledge base and provide the community with an added benefit of helping law enforcement do its job just a little bit better and faster. Our customers, the investigators and prosecutors, can continue to expect improvements of the DNAWitness service line. STRmap will be followed by other even more innovative technologies," he concluded.
