CCMB develops first DNA test to identify animal species

p>A team of scientists at the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has filed for a US patent for what it claims the world's first DNA test to see if a forensic sample belongs to human beings or animals and also identify the exact species of the animal. According to reports, the new test will be a useful tool in detecting wildlife offences. It has been developed after two years of research led by CCMB director Lalji Singh.

CCMB scientists have discovered that nature has hidden species-specific codes of nucleotides or signatures, in a small fragment of a gene, the cytochrome B, present in every mitochondria.

The scientists then developed a universal DNA probe to decode the molecular signature from samples and identified the animal species using a data analysis, case management and data capture tool developed by CCMB with the help of Ingenovis, a division of the Srini Raju promoted iLabs.

"The database dubbed the Wildlife Tracing Net for Species Signature (WITNess) incorporates in silico analysis of 1,755 signatures currently and another 25,000 are in progress. Ultimately the database will be 50,000 strong," Singh said.