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Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Goa researchers develop low-cost method to isolate DNA from soil
Panaji: In an achievement that could help resolve human and wildlife crime, researchers from the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Goa campus, have developed a system to help authorities isolate DNA from soil samples in human and wildlife cases cost-effectively. NFSU faculty member Abhishek Singh, who led the research, said that this new method 'has the potential to be a game-changer in soil forensics, wildlife crime investigation, and environmental DNA (eDNA) studies'. NFSU Goa director Naveen Kumar Chaudhary said that this 'major innovation will significantly reduce the pendency of cases in India and make the investigations time and cost-effective'. Explaining how the new method will work, he said, 'The patented scientific procedure proposed by the NFSU Goa faculty will cut down the time required to extract the DNA from the soil samples and make the entire investigation more scientific and rapid'. This international patient was granted to the NFSU for an invention titled 'A system for isolating high-quality metagenomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from soil samples'. The invention was developed by Suchitra J S, Ashwin Edakkara, and Bhaskar Pandey, students of MSc forensic science and BSc MSc forensic science (integrated). The team was led by assistant professor Sweta Nidhi and Singh, who is coordinator and in charge of the centre for wildlife forensics (CWF), NFSU Goa. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo by Taboola by Taboola The research work started in Feb 2024 and took one year to conceptualise, execute, and patent. Soil samples were collected from several parts of India, including Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, covering all eight types of soil present in the subcontinent. The physical characteristics of the soil samples were recorded and processed for DNA isolation, and the standardisation and validation of the system took almost half a year. The extraction system is a German patent and will be accessible globally upon request.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Indian Express
One year of new criminal laws: Chandigarh Police registers over 3,000 FIRs
As the new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) — complete one year of implementation, Chandigarh has registered a total of 3,154 FIRs under the new framework, including 1,459 e-FIRs. Of these cases, 758 chargesheets have been filed, and 78 cases have been decided, with 71 convictions — marking a 'remarkable' 91.1 per cent conviction rate in the city, police said. Chandigarh was the first state/ UT in the country to fully implement the trio of reformed criminal laws and has emerged as a leading example of technology-driven, transparent, and citizen-centric policing. Over the past year, the city police undertook a comprehensive approach to adapting to the new legal architecture — focusing on capacity-building, forensic enhancement, digital integration, and public engagement. According to the police, more than 6,124 police personnel, including senior officers, SHOs, and investigators, were trained extensively on the new provisions. A group of 29 master trainers was developed, and training modules were conducted in collaboration with judicial academies and law schools. To strengthen investigative capabilities, 14 forensic experts were hired through the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), along with 22 IT specialists through NICSI. Applications such as eSakshya, Nyay Setu, eProsecution, and MedLEaPR have enabled faster, evidence-based policing. The eSakshya platform alone has digitally documented 2,675 pieces of evidence, which are securely stored with geo-tagging and hash verification. AI-based tools like CCTNS Khoji have enhanced suspect tracking, search capabilities, and biometric identification, a Chandigarh police official said. The average time taken for conviction in cases under the new laws has been reduced significantly — from 300 days to just 110 days — reflecting greater speed and efficiency in investigations and trial processes. Five forensic teams now operate round-the-clock, supported by QR code-based evidence tracking systems to maintain chain of custody, the official added.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
AI 171 crash: Advanced DNA profiling helped piece together familial links
Ahmedabad: Four of the 241 victims aboard the ill-fated AI 171 flight were a man, his wife, son and daughter. The forensic experts first relied on the man's paternal uncle to get a sample for the Y-STR (short tandem repeat) test. The relationship, however, did not prove helpful in establishing an identity beyond doubt. So, the experts again reached out to the family to request a sample of the deceased man's mother and performed the X-STR test. "The strategy worked. Through careful kinship analysis using advanced DNA profiling, the team successfully established the man's identity, which proved to be key in identifying three other members of the family," said H P Sanghvi, director of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences (DFS). The identity of the last unidentified passenger aboard AI 171 was also confirmed on Friday. A team of 40 forensic scientists from the DFS and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) worked tirelessly to establish the identities of 254 of 260 crash victims based on DNA matches, a mammoth task that posed unique challenges. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Dr Malay Shukla, coordinator at Centre of Excellence (CoE) in DNA Forensics, said that one of the cases involved three members of a family — a man, his wife and daughter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jesus' Tomb Is Opened And Scientists Find Something Unbelievable Novelodge Undo "In this case, we got the reference DNA from the couple's other daughter. Autosomal (non-sex chromosome) markers were used to narrow down the connection between the victims and the donor. To verify that all four were related to each other, X-STRs were used. With the use of both X-STR and autosomal STR, we could establish the identities," said Prof Shukla. Dr Bhargav Patel, head of the CoE in DNA Forensics at NFSU, said that they have matched the DNA samples of the victims with nephews, cousins, grandparents and maternal or paternal uncles. "In conventional matches, we generally rely on either X-STR, Y-STR or autosomal STR test to establish identities. But in the cases associated with the crash, more than one test was employed in several cases. In some of the cases, even mitochondrial DNA matches were used. While nuclear DNA (with X and Y chromosomes) is inherited from both parents, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited maternally," he said. The X-STR markers are inherited from mother to daughter and son, and from father to daughter, but not from father to son. Likewise, mtDNA is inherited maternally and can be matched with the maternal line. In one of the better-known cases from the airplane crash, the identification of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was carried out using the Y-STR from his nephew on the patrilineal branch. Earlier, his sister and son had provided the samples for the match. Experts said that ensure the quality of DNA samples, they relied primarily on teeth. Their second choice was bones such as the mandible (jaw) and clavicle (collarbone) that sustained severe temperatures. Several of the samples were in highly deteriorated condition, the team managed to match all samples, according to the experts.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Advanced DNA profiling helped piece together familial links
Ahmedabad: Four of the 241 victims aboard the ill-fated AI 171 flight were a man, his wife, son and daughter. The forensic experts first relied on the man's paternal uncle to get a sample for the Y-STR (short tandem repeat) test. The relationship, however, did not prove helpful in establishing an identity beyond doubt. So, the experts again reached out to the family to request a sample of the deceased man's mother and performed the X-STR test. "The strategy worked. Through careful kinship analysis using advanced DNA profiling, the team successfully established the man's identity, which proved to be key in identifying three other members of the family," said H P Sanghvi, director of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences (DFS). The identity of the last unidentified passenger aboard AI 171 was also confirmed on Friday. A team of 40 forensic scientists from the DFS and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) worked tirelessly to establish the identities of 254 of 260 crash victims based on DNA matches, a mammoth task that posed unique challenges. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Dr Malay Shukla, coordinator at Centre of Excellence (CoE) in DNA Forensics, said that one of the cases involved three members of a family — a man, his wife and daughter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch xu hướng AUD/USD? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "In this case, we got the reference DNA from the couple's other daughter. Autosomal (non-sex chromosome) markers were used to narrow down the connection between the victims and the donor. To verify that all four were related to each other, X-STRs were used. With the use of both X-STR and autosomal STR, we could establish the identities," said Prof Shukla. Dr Bhargav Patel, head of the CoE in DNA Forensics at NFSU, said that they have matched the DNA samples of the victims with nephews, cousins, grandparents and maternal or paternal uncles. "In conventional matches, we generally rely on either X-STR, Y-STR or autosomal STR test to establish identities. But in the cases associated with the crash, more than one test was employed in several cases. In some of the cases, even mitochondrial DNA matches were used. While nuclear DNA (with X and Y chromosomes) is inherited from both parents, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited maternally," he said. The X-STR markers are inherited from mother to daughter and son, and from father to daughter, but not from father to son. Likewise, mtDNA is inherited maternally and can be matched with the maternal line. In one of the better-known cases from the airplane crash, the identification of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was carried out using the Y-STR from his nephew on the patrilineal branch. Earlier, his sister and son had provided the samples for the match. Experts said that ensure the quality of DNA samples, they relied primarily on teeth. Their second choice was bones such as the mandible (jaw) and clavicle (collarbone) that sustained severe temperatures. Several of the samples were in highly deteriorated condition, the team managed to match all samples, according to the experts.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Remains of all but one AI-171 victim identified
All the remains found from the Air India flight 171 crash site in Ahmedabad have been identified using DNA matching or facial recognition, barring one case, Gujarat health department officials said on Tuesday, tentatively putting the death toll from India's worst aviation disaster in decades at 260. Ahmedabad: Wreckage of the crashed Air India plane being lifted through a crane, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (PTI) 'So far, the death toll due to the plane crash is 260. This includes 241 people on board and 19 non-passengers. No new bodies have been recovered from the site in the last few days,' said a senior government official. One DNA sample that probably is of a passenger is yet to be matched successfully, said Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. An official aware of the matter said the DNA sample extracted seems to be in a fragmented or degraded state, creating difficulties in matching it with samples provided by relatives. 'Fresh re-sampling is required,' said the official. Also Read | Shifting process of crashed Ahmedabad plane's remains continue for third day Dr. Joshi said that so far 253 victims were identified through DNA testing while six were identified through facial recognition. 'The site of the crash is still being cleared. Unless we are certain that no additional victims are going to be found, we cannot declare the final death toll,' news agency Reuters quoted Dr Joshi as saying. A total of 318 body parts were recovered from the crash site at Meghaninagar, said a senior police official. The London-bound Air India Dreamliner aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12 from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin, emerged as the lone survivor. The impact devastated the residential block of a nearby medical college, claiming several lives on the ground. Also Read | Black box of crashed Ahmedabad plane being probed in India, says Aviation minister Additional chief secretary of the health and family welfare department, Dhananjay Dwivedi, told HT as many as 250 relatives of the deceased, including non-passengers, gave DNA samples for identification. He said that while the DNA samples of the relatives of the victims were collected at Ahmedabad Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), the DNA matching was conducted at FSL Gandhinagar and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). 'In some cases, multiple DNA samples from relatives were required, while in others, a single relative's sample was sufficient to identify multiple family members who died in the crash,' he added. 'This was one of the biggest DNA-matching efforts that India has seen,' said Dr. Bhargav Patel, Head of the Center of Excellence in DNA Forensics at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). A DNA matching exercise such as this typically takes months. But in the case of the AI 171 crash, identification of viable samples has been completed in about two weeks. Dr. Vishal Mewada, assistant professor at NFSU, developed specialized in-house software that significantly accelerated the DNA matching process. 'One of the biggest challenges we faced was that it took 5-7 minutes for a single match using the existing technology, but with the new software, we could match 500 samples in just five minutes,' he explained.
