The Hindu : 'DNA fingerprinting touching lives of ordinary people'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

'DNA fingerprinting touching lives of ordinary people'

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Feb. 10. The greatest genetic diversity of human beings is likely to be found in Africa, which is also stated to be the place of origin of humans as a species. Human populations in all other parts of the world are only sub-sets of Africa's genetic pool.

Sir Alec Jeffreys, pioneering genetic scientist from UK and popularly known as "Father of DNA Fingerprinting", covered a whole gamut of issues related to genetics while speaking to the press here on Monday. Sir Jeffreys is visiting the Hyderabad-based Centre for Chemical and Molecular Biology as part of the British Government's 50th year celebration of DNA discovery.

Based on his research, which indicated that each individual has strands of DNA which are unique to him or her, DNA fingerprinting has developed and become an important part of our lives especially in criminal and legal cases. The British Government has already developed a DNA database of over two million convicted criminals. Plans are afoot to extend it to cover suspects too but this has faced opposition from those who feel that genetic profiling of suspects would reflect the racial and class bias of the police and magnify social conflicts.

Speaking on these ethical issues, intrinsic to DNA research, Sir Jeffreys said the that building a national DNA register has well known advantages, specially in times of disaster and medical emergencies. But it could as easily be used for racial profiling and become a tool of an Orwellian "Big Brother'' Government.

There have been two well-documented efforts at racial profiling using DNA fingerprinting technology. By the Basque in Spain and by the Zionists in Israel. Both tried to use DNA profiles to show that they were "racially'' different from neighbouring populations of the Spanish and the Arab- Palestinians, respectively. Fortunately, Sir Jeffreys adds, both attempts were failures it was impossible to tell them apart genetically!

``We all have common ancestors'', Sir Jeffreys said, and added that in a country like Britain going back just twenty generations would show that everybody was somehow related to everybody else.

Despite this, the human DNA is "fantastically diverse'' which has helped human evolution, as each new birth produces a unique new copy of DNA. "Genetic mutation is a fine balancing act, and the rate of mutation is very important for successful evolution'', he noted. If mutation is too fast it would lead to deformities, but if mutation is absent or very slow, it would lead to stagnation and decline of the species. Pollution, especially of radiological and chemical substances, are dangerous precisely because they attack this process of mutation, Sir Jeffreys explained. Whenever an external cause attacks DNA, the cell can react in two ways. Repair the damage to its DNA or commit suicide. But sometimes the cell "misrepairs'' its DNA and "this is the real danger''. This misrepair can perpetuate itself through generations.

At present Sir Jeffreys has been spending much of his time researching the effect of such pollution on DNA and human evolution.

Reacting to fears on the safety of genetically modified (GM) food, he suggested that they may be safe medically. But he expressed deep concern at the "economic motive'' behind those who are "pushing'' GM foods in the markets.

``MNCs are using GM foods and products to corner the market and drive out other products. This would result in an unacceptable destruction of genetic diversity'' he said and warned that it would be disastrous for human health in the long run.

``DNA fingerprinting is touching the lives of ordinary people, it is no science fiction'' says Sir Jeffreys with satisfaction, much as a `father' whose children have done him proud.

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