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An Australian-based scientist announced yesterday he had made a step forward in forensic (用于法
庭的) DNA testing so that an individual can be identified by a single cell.
Ian Findlay, from the Australian Genome Research Facility at the University of Queensland, said
current DNA testing required 200 to 500 cells to gain a similar level of accuracy. "What we have done
has brought that down to one cell," Dr Findlay said after releasing details of his DNA testing technique
at a Sydney conference.
The technology could allow investigators to pick up DNA identities from plastic cards and even build
up a complete history of the people who have handled a paper document.
"You'd have to wear a space suit to stop yourself from leaving traces. You can identify cells on the
paper, so you can work out where it's come from and who's touched it," he said.
The technique could also be used to trace the thrower of a punch (打孔) from cells left behind on the
skin of their victim. Even the wearing of latex(橡膠)gloves would not help: small cells can pass through
the gloves, and the constant flow of genetic material given off by the human body would leave further
evidence.
"We gained a skin cell from a document dating back 30 years and managed to gain a DNA
fingerprint. DNA evidence can remain fresh for decades, perhaps even centuries," Dr Findlay said. "The
potential for this technology to solve unsolved crimes is great, "he said.
But Dr Findlay, named scientist of the year in 1998 by the European Society of Human Genetics, said
the new testing needed to be scientifically validated, which would take up to five years.
He said, "There are serious consequences taking on technologies too early. The public has to be sure
that they have the utmost confidence in the security and court systems."
1. The main advantage of the new technology is that ______.
A. it has brought down the cost of DNA testing
B. a single cell can identify an individual
C. a higher level of accuracy can be acquired with a single cell
D. it needs less than 200 cells to gain a certain level of accuracy
2. The underlined word" validated" means ______.
A. proved true
B. imagined good
C. supposed commonly
D. criticized strongly
3. According to Ian Findlay, the new technology can ______.
A. help to keep DNA evidence fresh for decades and even centuries
B. make the process of DNA testing much more simplified
C. help to pick up DNA identities more easily
D. be widely used in five years at most
4. The last paragraph suggests that ______.
A. the immediate adopting of the technology may cause mistakes
B. the public have acknowledged the new testing technology
C. it is safe to put the new technology into use now
D. Dr Findlay is quite sure of his new technology
5. The aim of the passage is to ______.
A. praise Ian Findlay for his work
B. inform us of the wide use of DNA testing
C. report a piece of interesting news
D. tell us a recent improvement in DNA testing
