Telltale DNA sucked out of household dust (article preview)

June 2, 2008 | Source: New Scientist

In a finding reminiscent of the movie Gattaca, Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified human DNA in dust.

Though each sample contained just trillionths of a gram of DNA, it was enough for amplification and profiling via the DNA kits used in forensic labs.

The amount of DNA in dust is tiny and from so many people that singling out any individual is currently difficult.