Cat Burglar
Cats are known for not really minding their own business, getting their furry paws on just about anything they can.
And it turns out, this makes them effective vectors for DNA evidence, according to a study published last month in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetic Supplement Series.
Researchers collaborating with the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department in Australia found detectable human DNA in 80 percent of the samples collected from 20 pet cats, with 70 percent of the samples strong enough that they could be linked to a person of interest in a crime scene investigation.
"Collection of human DNA needs to become very important in crime scene investigations, but there is a lack of data on companion animals such as cats and dogs in their relationship to human DNA transfer," said study lead author Heidi Monkman, a forensic scientist at Flinders University, in a statement.
"These companion animals can be highly relevant in assessing the presence and activities of the inhabitants of the household, or any recent visitors to the scene."
Here Kitty
One possible takeaway is that cats — and other companion pets like dogs — could be harboring DNA that could help solve a case.
The bigger issue, though, is that pets could introduce foreign DNA that muddles a crime scene, possibly leading to an innocent person being implicated. A pet could be carrying the DNA of a complete stranger, or it might bring the DNA of its owner into a crime scene that they had nothing to do with.
Monkman's colleague and co-author of the paper, Maria Goray, is an experienced crime scene investigator and an expert in DNA transfer. She believes their findings could help clear up how pets might tamper a crime scene by carrying outside DNA.
"Are these DNA findings a result of a criminal activity or could they have been transferred and deposited at the scene via a pet?" Goray asked.
It's a question worth asking — especially because innocent people have been jailed off botched DNA science far too often.
More on DNA evidence: Cops Upload Image of Suspect Generated From DNA, Then Delete After Mass Criticism
The post Cats May Be Tampering With Crime Scenes, Scientists Say appeared first on Futurism.
Here is the original post:
Cats May Be Tampering With Crime Scenes, Scientists Say
- Water Purification Island [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Private Islands: South China Sea Style [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The Best of Fiji [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- High Cay: Bahamas [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The World: Back on the Market [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The Island Market is Back [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Haunted Halloween Island [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Ambergris Island Property [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Paradise Sinking [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Parrot Cay: Own a Piece of Privacy [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- An Icky Day [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- It's a Cory's! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- There she blows! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Bye bye Whale [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- No Bunting Mistake [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Whale of a time... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Leaving day [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Look who's back... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Lanced... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Migrants role in... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Pups away! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Double take [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Northerly wind blows [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Northern visitors [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Siege! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Storm time [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Storm season [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Storming over [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Sealing mission [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Still no go [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Over they go! [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- All change [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Welcome back storms [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Fight club [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- V Australia to Fiji [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Tahiti Sun Travel For Sale [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Cook Islands Travel Guide [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Perfectly Frank – Fiji [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Cook Islands Tax Hike [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Easter Island Travel Guide [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Surviving Paradise [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Canada Seal Hunt ‘09 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Tuvalu Travel Guide [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Saudi Arabian Sojourn [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Laurent Pichot on Moorea [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Largest Island for Sale in the World. [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Isla Kiniw: Incredible Island Rental [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Save at Sandals Resorts [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Marvelous Mediterranean: Skyropoula Island [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Branson Talks Necker Island [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Hog Island: Affordable Nova Scotia [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Banyan Tree: Seychelles [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Celebrity Secret Vacation Spots [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Star Island [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- 7 Islands in 7 Days [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Counting continues [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Life goes on [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Payback time [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- No let up [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Game on [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Deal or No Deal? [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Food glorious food [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Mainland beckons... [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The tempest is coming [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Tought times ahead [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Tystie day [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Saying Goodbye...maybe [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Departure Day [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Seal pups [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Seabird Breeding Season 2009 [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Maritime Terminal Papeete Tahiti [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- A splash of colour [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Tiger Woods Wife purchases Island Retreat [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2009]
- New Flights to Fiji [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2009]
- Five Star Fiji [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2009]
- Go Farther in Nicaragua [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2009]
- Zoo Island [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2009]
- Seasons Greetings 2009 [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2009]
- Green Ark Island [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2009]
- Merry Christmas! [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2009]