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| Sunday, 20 February 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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DNA tests : Mapping an identity DNA testing to prove the genetic identity of 'Baby 81' now confirmed as Abilash Jeyarajah, has brought to light the significant role DNA typing has played in identity verification and parentage testing in Sri Lanka. Shanika Sriyananda talks to Dr. Maya Gunasekara, Chairperson Genetech, the country's only bio-tech laboratory, about the emerging role of DNA testing in crime scenes and in determining parentage.
It was a battle between astrology and modern technology. At stake was the future of a five-years-old and the unity of a once happy family. The catalyst was the family astrologer, who had said "This can't be your child" after casting the horoscope of the baby. The father had refused custody of his own son, accusing his wife of having a secret relationship when he was abroad. The horoscope read to get an auspicious time to admit the little boy to primary school, turned the peaceful family environment into a nightmare. The mother insulted and abused constantly by the man she loved and trusted, was directed by a friend, to the 'Genetech' laboratory in Colombo for a DNA testing to confirm proof of paternity, to prove her innocence and resolve the family dispute. Genetech is the first bio-tech laboratory in the country. The DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) testing, which is the most accurate and reliable means of identity verification and parentage testing, proved the boy to be the son of the man, he'd been calling father all along. "We were able to save the marriages of three such families, last year", said Dr. Maya Gunasekara, Genetech Chairperson. Since January 2001, over 350 DNA tests have been performed by Genetech to prove the paternity or maternity of children. Being the only institute where parentage can be proved through DNA typing, Genetech last week performed a landmark DNA test to resolve the controversy of 'Baby 81' who was found under the rubble of the tsunami devastation in Kalmunai. According to Dr. Gunasekara, DNA typing is used for two major purposes. One is to identify individuals from biological samples, mainly done in forensic casework, where it is possible to determine the identity of a criminal by typing the DNA left at the scene of a crime. The second important use of DNA typing is to determine family relationships. "There are many situations where the second kind of typing is needed, such as paternity, maternity and grandparent testing. The identification of mutilated bodies is also done by determining family relationships", said Dr. Gunasekara adding that it was the best method to identify individuals and determine relationships. "It is highly sensitive and the test can be performed even with a small amount of tissue. It is highly accurate and gives a very high degree of certainty. It is very reliable," she said. Explaining the DNA typing process, Dr. Gunasekara said that they obtained the DNA banding pattern or profile of an individual from a tissue sample and then tested it in the form of a set of DNA brands known as 'alleles'. Each person has a maximum of two specific alleles for a given genetic location. "In determining family relationships, paternity is confirmed by testing nine to twelve genetic locations of the mother, father and child. By comparing the DNA profiles of the mother and child it is possible to identify the alleles that the child inherited from the biological mother. When these alleles are excluded, the remaining alleles must come from the biological father. If the DNA profile from the tested man contains these remaining alleles, then a statistical analysis can be performed to determine the probability of the particular man being the father of the child", she said. DNA evidence has been submitted in Court cases on more than twenty occasions, such as disputed parentage, and these results have also been used by the Police in criminal investigations. A person's DNA is unique and no two people, except identical twins, have the same DNA. Every cell in a person's body has the same DNA. Any part of the human body can be used to perform the DNA typing. According to Dr. Gunasekara, the whole family, inclusive of father, mother and child were tested in 91 per cent of parentage proofing, while the father and the child were tested only in 12 cases. "Over 81 per cent of these cases had been referred to by the courts and the rest were on requests of individuals", she said. Dr. Gunasekara said that while 73 per cent of paternity tests were positive and 27 per cent were cases where the mother of the child was either accused of infidelity by the husband or where the mother was not aware of the child's father. "In these cases, where the results of DNA typing is negative, the identity of the child's true father remains unknown", she pointed out. The majority of the parentage testing directed to Genetech were for maintenances and custody of children and to prove paternity of the children born out of wedlock. The second reason for paternity testing was to prove adultery in divorce cases. "Statutory and child abuse which have resulted in pregnancy accounted for nine paternity tests and two tests were performed to prove incest. Four maternity cases were performed in cases of illegal adoption, baby stealing and hospital mix-ups", Dr. Gunasekara said. She said that the Genetech was committed to providing quality service with their highly qualified scientists and every detail was well documented. "Especially, I do not want to see a child deprived of his or her father and I do not want an innocent person to be accused", she said. Dr. Gunasekara said that some customers had tried to bribe the lab technicians in parentage cases during the inception of Genetech, but added that now there was no room for such unethical practices as the public now know about the institution and its ethics. "Some people want to know whether they can bring the hair samples of their wives because they do not want them to come here or they do not want their wives to know that a test is being done to prove paternity or they want to bring their wives under false pretence saying that this is a diabetic test. We can't do such things and we do parentage testing on two parties provided that the family is already separated", she explained. She stressed that they could not do analysis on someone's hair sample without his or her knowledge as it was unethical. Genetech provides a consent form and in Baby 81's case, the mother filled the consent form stating that she was aware that the parentage test was being done. Genetech, according to Dr. Gunasekara, is following very tough procedures, where written consent from all living parties who are to be tested, have to be submitted prior to the test. No information about the ethnicity, race, social background, physical or mental status of the persons subjected to the test will be revealed. According to Dr. Gunasekara, world policy on parentage testing is that it can be performed when the mother and father are separated. It gives priority to the child and if the child's parents are already separated, the test is not going to make any difference but it is done in the best interests of the child. "If there is a divorce case going on, then we can do the test because there is already a court case. But in such cases we ask for the birth certificate of the child, because the father also has a right to know whether he is the real father. Then he has to bring proof showing that he is the real father because he has to give his consent to his child. But if the parents are living together, then the mother has to give her consent", she explained. Dr. Gunasekara said that in one such disputed paternity case a woman accused her own father of being the father of her child. But the DNA test proved that it was a false accusation. In another case of suspected statutory rape, the DNA test showed that the child born to an underage girl, had been fathered by the girls own uncle. *** What is DNA ? DNA is the genetic material that we inherit from our parents and is considered the chemical blueprint that makes each of us unique. DNA encodes all of the genetic information of an individual. It is found in almost every cell in the human body. A child inherits one half of his or her DNA from the mother and other half from the father. What parts in human body can be used for DNA typing ? It can be performed with many types of biological specimens including blood, saliva, sperm, cells, muscle, teeth and bones. So a persons DNA can be typed from very little tissue or body fluid. What is DNA typing? It is a method of identifying individuals from the differences they have in their DNA, It is also used to determine family relationships between individuals. Mystery heart disease on the rise by Rohan Mathes Myo-carditis, a mysterious viral heart disease spreading across the Badulla district may reach epidemic levels and prove fatal, if immediate and appropriate medication is not administered, Uva Provincial Council Health Minister Dr. Rohana Pushpakumara warned.Dr. Pushmakumara said, "to date there has not been any record of deaths, but if such patients are neglected, it may lead even to heart failure. We have not yet fully identified or diagnosed the ailment or the organism which causes the disease. We expect to have a breakthrough within the next two weeks." He said that in September, October and November last year, they had detected around 56 patients who were cured by proper medication. Within January and February this year, over 84 patients have been admitted to the Badulla hospital for treatment and the predictions are that it may rise further. The earlier assumption that the virus was due to the cold climate around Badulla was incorrect, as patients even from far away places like Buttala, Bibile and Monaragala had been diagnosed with the disease in addition to Badulla, Bandarawela and Haliela. The disease originating from an inflation in the heart muscle, has symptoms of fever, chest painand breathing difficulties. It could strike both sexes, generally below 45 years of age. However, of the 80 patients reported, 45 have been below 25 years, Dr. Pushmakumara noted. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has called for blood, urine and stools samples of the patients, and are awaiting specialists' advice on the matter. The public are advised to refrain from panicking, as the government will do all it could to arrest the situation. National ban on smoking ? Mark February 25 in red in your calendar, for it will be the day, the world (at least most parts of the world) will say good bye to the 'noxious fix' that kills someone, somewhere in the world, every eight seconds. the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) will come into force on this day compelling governments to implement new laws to protect its citizens from the harmful effects of smoking. Being the world's first public health treaty, over 40 countries that ratified the FCTC will impose restrictions on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, introduce norms for packaging and labelling of tobacco products and implement protective measurers to protect people from exposure to smoke in workplace, public transport systems and other public places. The soaring tobacco-related cases - lung cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease - and death made the WHO request the countries to implement new national laws to protect future generations from smoking. Recent WHO research data show that smoking will kill 10 million people, 7 million in developing countries in the next few years. According to data, the world counts 1.2 billion smokers today and an additional 400 million smokers will be added by 2020. According to health reports the tobacco related death toll is increasing annually while latest information from India and China show that tobacco kills more adults than it was believed earlier. Data from Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Oman, Egypt, China and India indicate how the age of tobacco has become common among the youth and how many newborns and children are harmed by exposure to passive smoking. However, going by the list of countries that banned tobacco smoking one can clearly agree with the health experts who accuse the tobacco industries of targeting developing countries, as most of the developed countries in the West have banned tobacco smoking. Meanwhile, the giant leap forward by the tiny Himalayan nation Bhutan to impose a national ban on tobacco use will be a fine example to other SAARC nations like Sri Lanka at this juncture. Bhutan - the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'- will have a place in history as the first nation on earth to introduce a complete ban on tobacco use by banning the sale of tobacco and tobacco products. According to the latest local health reports, over 6 billion cigarettes are smoked each year in Sri Lanka, while over 39 per cent urban males and 1 per cent females smoke cigarettes. WHO states that the cost of a pack of cigarettes is equal to 40 per cent of the smoker's daily income in Sri Lanka. Of the total admissions at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, half the patients suffer from tobacco related diseases. Is this for indication of the need of a national ban on smoking...! **** Countries that have banned tobacco smoking in public places, bars and restaurants: * The Republic of Ireland, which became the first country in the world to ban smoking in all enclosed work places and bars and restaurants. * New Zealand * Italy * Sweden * Australia, Iran, Montenegro, Malta, Norway, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, parts of Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Kingston, Ottawa, Peel Region, St. John's, Toronto, Waterloo Region, York Region, London, Whitehorse, Yukon) and parts of the U.S. (Arizona; Boulder, Colorado; New York; California; Florida; Massachusetts; Delaware; Connecticut; Maine; Rhode Island; Eugene, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Lexington, Kentucky; Columbus, Ohio) * South Africa * Turkmenistan * Selected parts in Tokyo, Japan prohibits smoking on the streets * France, the Netherlands and Russia. Health update Cancer drugs may fight smallpox Latest research into cancer drugs have unexpectedly led to an entirely new way to beat viral infections, and particularly smallpox. The US scientists who did the research using lab mice, have now found that an experimental drug aimed at stopping the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells actually prevents the smallpox virus from replicating inside human cells, and can save mice from dying of a closely related virus, Vaccinia. The team then gave the drug to mice and infected them with Vaccinia. The drug saved all the treated mice from dying at doses of virus that killed all of the untreated mice. It worked even better when combined with an antibody highly specific for Vaccinia. And the combined approach was better than the added effects of each separately, possibly because they strongly stimulated the mouse's own immune response. They used an experimental cancer drug to block the erb-B1 receptor, and found that this did indeed stop the smallpox virus from propagating in human cells in culture. One drawback, according to the researchers, was that the mouse treatment only worked if the drug was given before the virus. Although treating the mouse after the viral infection began did reduce the severity of infection the mice still died. The authors suspect that in a slower-developing disease, as pox infections are in humans, the combined treatment might have a better chance of beating the virus. ***** Pollution fighter turns clot buster A material normally used to clean up car exhaust fumes could one day be used in dressings and surgical equipment to prevent severe skin infections and blood clots. It might even help combat infections by the MRSA superbug, a newly filed patent claims. They can be treated with nitric oxide (NO), which is able to regulate blood pressure, stop thrombosis - blood clotting in the vessels - and is a powerful antibacterial agent. However, applying NO to the right areas and at the right levels is a major challenge. "As nitric oxide is toxic in large quantities you have to be able to deliver the right amount to the right place," says Russell Morris, a chemist at the University of St Andrew's in the UK. And because the gas is very reactive and quickly breaks down in the body, it is hard to find a way to deliver it to a specific site. Morris says it will be possible to release NO onto the skin at precisely controlled rates using the same technology that catalytic converters use to scrub the gas from car exhaust. Some converters do this by trapping NO in a compound called a zeolite, then breaking it down into harmless nitrogen and oxygen. **** Relocating Mahamodera Hospital by Anura Maitipe A High powered team of German Representatives met the Minister of Health and Indigenous medicine at the Ministry of Health last week to discuss the relocation of Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, which had been badly affected by the tsunami, Health Ministry sources told the Sunday Observer. The former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl who had a lucky escape from the tsunami while holidaying in Galle has sent the team to discuss commencing work on the new hospital in Karapitiya, sources added. Two locations/ lands occupied by the Irrigation Department and a vacant plot adjoining the Karapitiya Hospital have been identified by the Ministry of Health for relocation of the Mahamodara Hospital,sources said. The needed funds for the project will be provided by non governmental organisations of Germany. The project would be implemented on build, equip and transfer basis,sources said.Meanwhile the Ministry has taken the initiative to re commence surgery at Mahamodara Hospital in order to provide uninterrupted services to the patients until the new hospital is put up, sources said. |
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