Touch DNA

http://www.forensicmag.com/article/touch-dna?page=0,0

Touch DNA

Touch DNA is used to process an item someone has touched. We are always shedding skin cells when we touch something. We leave skin cells behind. Scientists can use skin cells left by criminals to develop a DNA profile. Scientists can take a small sample of skin cells and make as many copies of the DNA as they need to perform their analysis. This process provides a highly specific genetic portrait of the person profiled. The whole process takes only takes a few days . This is much less time than is needed for traditional DNA processing. The right samples of DNA must be collected. This method can be used on samples taken from guns, steering wheels, cell phones, glass, plastic, wood, cloth, fabric, etc.

This article is important because it can impact the world of crime in a positive light. With touch DNA, we can now more accurately identify suspects of a crime scene based on the skin cells they have shed. Not only can we identify skin cells but also materials such as guns, cell phones, and clothing. This way, all suspects of a crime can be identified.

The only criticism I have about the article is that many aspects should be explained more thoroughly. It is a bit brief on the methods of examination.

To much TV is Harmful for your Heart Health

Spending to much time in front of a TV or a computer screen can increase the risk of heart disease and premature death. Data shows that people who spend less then 2 hours a day looking a t a screen and those who use more then 4 hours are likely to have a major cardiac event that involves hospitalization, death or both. Those spending less than two hours a day staring at a screen, there was a 48% increased risk of death in those spending four or more hours a day. Data shows that one fourth of the organization between screen time and cardiovascular events was explained collectively by C-reactive protein, body mass index, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol suggesting that irritation and of lipids may be one pathway through which extended sitting increases the risk for cardiovascular events. CRP, a well-established marker of low-grade irritation, was two times higher in people spending more than four hours of screen time per day compared to those spending less than two hours a day. A present study showed that 4,512 adults who were affected. From a survey a total of 325 all-cause deaths and 215 cardiac events occurred during an average of 4.3 years of follow up.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110110164736.htm

Posted for X. Lessane