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Every contact leaves a trace | Ange Droz | TEDxPitsmoor


I’m going to talk to you about DNA the

I’m going to talk to you about DNA the bar code that makes you who you are the

bar code that makes you who you are the

bar code that makes you who you are the thing that makes everybody completely

thing that makes everybody completely

thing that makes everybody completely different from everybody else when I was

different from everybody else when I was

different from everybody else when I was doing biology a level in the 70s we were

doing biology a level in the 70s we were

doing biology a level in the 70s we were told that one day we might be able to

told that one day we might be able to

told that one day we might be able to read DNA and one day it might be able to

read DNA and one day it might be able to

read DNA and one day it might be able to help us identify people from each other

help us identify people from each other

help us identify people from each other well we can do that now your DNA is a

well we can do that now your DNA is a

well we can do that now your DNA is a little bit like a ladder a ladder with

little bit like a ladder a ladder with

little bit like a ladder a ladder with 33 million rungs and if you were every

33 million rungs and if you were every

33 million rungs and if you were every single one of those runs into a bag and

single one of those runs into a bag and

single one of those runs into a bag and jumbled them up take them out one at a

jumbled them up take them out one at a

jumbled them up take them out one at a time and put them on your ladder either

time and put them on your ladder either

time and put them on your ladder either way round and then do it again that’s

way round and then do it again that’s

way round and then do it again that’s the amount of different ways that each

the amount of different ways that each

the amount of different ways that each person is built up so the odds of two

person is built up so the odds of two

person is built up so the odds of two people having the same DNA or

people having the same DNA or

people having the same DNA or infinitesimal except for identical twins

infinitesimal except for identical twins

infinitesimal except for identical twins now in the 80s it was the first time

now in the 80s it was the first time

now in the 80s it was the first time that DNA identification was used in a

that DNA identification was used in a

that DNA identification was used in a legal case a boy from Ghana had come and

legal case a boy from Ghana had come and

legal case a boy from Ghana had come and emigrated with his mother and his

emigrated with his mother and his

emigrated with his mother and his siblings to the UK and he went home for

siblings to the UK and he went home for

siblings to the UK and he went home for a visit when he came back again the

a visit when he came back again the

a visit when he came back again the authorities thought that there was

authorities thought that there was

authorities thought that there was something wrong with his passport and he

something wrong with his passport and he

something wrong with his passport and he wasn’t the same person that went out

wasn’t the same person that went out

wasn’t the same person that went out there and they tried to say that he was

there and they tried to say that he was

there and they tried to say that he was trying to come in under a false passport

trying to come in under a false passport

trying to come in under a false passport and that he wasn’t the son of the mother

and that he wasn’t the son of the mother

and that he wasn’t the son of the mother who said he was well a woman from an

who said he was well a woman from an

who said he was well a woman from an immigration charity called Sheena York

immigration charity called Sheena York

immigration charity called Sheena York said actually I think there’s a

said actually I think there’s a

said actually I think there’s a professor I’ve heard of that might be

professor I’ve heard of that might be

professor I’ve heard of that might be able to do something about this and he

able to do something about this and he

able to do something about this and he said no no we haven’t really got that

said no no we haven’t really got that

said no no we haven’t really got that far with DNA yet but he worked on it and

far with DNA yet but he worked on it and

far with DNA yet but he worked on it and he looked at it and he looked at the DNA

he looked at it and he looked at the DNA

he looked at it and he looked at the DNA of the mother and he looked at the DNA

of the mother and he looked at the DNA

of the mother and he looked at the DNA of the siblings and he matched the two

of the siblings and he matched the two

of the siblings and he matched the two mixes up and said yes there’s no doubt

mixes up and said yes there’s no doubt

mixes up and said yes there’s no doubt at all this child belongs to this mother

at all this child belongs to this mother

at all this child belongs to this mother so therefore it was proved that he

so therefore it was proved that he

so therefore it was proved that he should be in this country and he was

should be in this country and he was

should be in this country and he was allowed to stay other cases for example

allowed to stay other cases for example

allowed to stay other cases for example Richard the third when he was found in a

Richard the third when he was found in a

Richard the third when he was found in a car park in Leicester which at the

car park in Leicester which at the

car park in Leicester which at the moment is slightly more famous for

moment is slightly more famous for

moment is slightly more famous for something else they would they were

something else they would they were

something else they would they were pretty sure that the sky

pretty sure that the sky

pretty sure that the sky it was old and they were pretty sure it

it was old and they were pretty sure it

it was old and they were pretty sure it was the same formation as perhaps

was the same formation as perhaps

was the same formation as perhaps Richard the third but by checking out

Richard the third but by checking out

Richard the third but by checking out his siblings and looking at people that

his siblings and looking at people that

his siblings and looking at people that were related to rich of the third they

were related to rich of the third they

were related to rich of the third they said yep we definitely have found the

said yep we definitely have found the

said yep we definitely have found the skeleton of a king in a car park and

skeleton of a king in a car park and

skeleton of a king in a car park and he’s been reinterred in Leicester

he’s been reinterred in Leicester

he’s been reinterred in Leicester Cathedral it’s also been used more

Cathedral it’s also been used more

Cathedral it’s also been used more recently in a cold case where a rape and

recently in a cold case where a rape and

recently in a cold case where a rape and murder in 1985 I think hadn’t been sold

murder in 1985 I think hadn’t been sold

murder in 1985 I think hadn’t been sold and only recently the daughter of the

and only recently the daughter of the

and only recently the daughter of the killer who kept quiet all those years

killer who kept quiet all those years

killer who kept quiet all those years was taken into custody for something

was taken into custody for something

was taken into custody for something else gave a DNA sample the sample was

else gave a DNA sample the sample was

else gave a DNA sample the sample was checked on the database and it matched

checked on the database and it matched

checked on the database and it matched this guy who they then arrested and

this guy who they then arrested and

this guy who they then arrested and locked up for the murder that he

locked up for the murder that he

locked up for the murder that he committed all those years ago and of

committed all those years ago and of

committed all those years ago and of pick and we know that it solves cases

pick and we know that it solves cases

pick and we know that it solves cases but how much DNA do we need what do we

but how much DNA do we need what do we

but how much DNA do we need what do we know about the amount of DNA that’s

know about the amount of DNA that’s

know about the amount of DNA that’s needed well actually it’s not very much

needed well actually it’s not very much

needed well actually it’s not very much one DNA strand which gives you a full

one DNA strand which gives you a full

one DNA strand which gives you a full sample to identify you is one nanometer

sample to identify you is one nanometer

sample to identify you is one nanometer big and to let you know how big a

big and to let you know how big a

big and to let you know how big a nanometer is there are 60,000 nanometers

nanometer is there are 60,000 nanometers

nanometer is there are 60,000 nanometers for the width of a human hair so the

for the width of a human hair so the

for the width of a human hair so the amount of DNA that is needed to identify

amount of DNA that is needed to identify

amount of DNA that is needed to identify you he’s pretty small so if i was

you he’s pretty small so if i was

you he’s pretty small so if i was thinking of committing a crime and I

thinking of committing a crime and I

thinking of committing a crime and I didn’t want to pass my DNA on and get my

didn’t want to pass my DNA on and get my

didn’t want to pass my DNA on and get my DNA on say a gun or a knife or something

DNA on say a gun or a knife or something

DNA on say a gun or a knife or something then the sensible thing to do would be

then the sensible thing to do would be

then the sensible thing to do would be to put a pair of gloves on so that if I

to put a pair of gloves on so that if I

to put a pair of gloves on so that if I picked up this weapon for example it

picked up this weapon for example it

picked up this weapon for example it wouldn’t have my DNA on it now if you

wouldn’t have my DNA on it now if you

wouldn’t have my DNA on it now if you could pass me that bottle of water

could pass me that bottle of water

could pass me that bottle of water please Ingrid if you just pass that

please Ingrid if you just pass that

please Ingrid if you just pass that bottle of water forward

bottle of water forward

bottle of water forward which Ingrid kindly brought me earlier

now my DNA’s not on this rock bottle of

now my DNA’s not on this rock bottle of water because I’ve got gloves on /

water because I’ve got gloves on /

water because I’ve got gloves on / Ingrid’s DNA’s on it and Ingrid’s DNA is

Ingrid’s DNA’s on it and Ingrid’s DNA is

Ingrid’s DNA’s on it and Ingrid’s DNA is now my gloves and Ingrid’s DNA is now on

now my gloves and Ingrid’s DNA is now on

now my gloves and Ingrid’s DNA is now on this candlestick and that’s how easy it

this candlestick and that’s how easy it

this candlestick and that’s how easy it is to pass d annoyed DNA on in a

is to pass d annoyed DNA on in a

is to pass d annoyed DNA on in a secondary fashion so if that I’ve been

secondary fashion so if that I’ve been

secondary fashion so if that I’ve been used to kill somebody my DNA isn’t on it

used to kill somebody my DNA isn’t on it

used to kill somebody my DNA isn’t on it but few people here who touched that

but few people here who touched that

but few people here who touched that bottle of water which I haven’t touched

bottle of water which I haven’t touched

bottle of water which I haven’t touched with my hands the DNA has been passed

with my hands the DNA has been passed

with my hands the DNA has been passed over onto a weapon and also if you went

over onto a weapon and also if you went

over onto a weapon and also if you went shopping you went picked up something

shopping you went picked up something

shopping you went picked up something like bottle of shampoo or something and

like bottle of shampoo or something and

like bottle of shampoo or something and thought now that’s not the one for me

thought now that’s not the one for me

thought now that’s not the one for me and put it back down again and then

and put it back down again and then

and put it back down again and then somebody else pick that bottle of

somebody else pick that bottle of

somebody else pick that bottle of shampoo up took it home touch something

shampoo up took it home touch something

shampoo up took it home touch something in their house their your DNA is then

in their house their your DNA is then

in their house their your DNA is then moved somewhere completely different to

moved somewhere completely different to

moved somewhere completely different to somewhere you’ve never been and to

somewhere you’ve never been and to

somewhere you’ve never been and to illustrate that I’ll tell you a story a

illustrate that I’ll tell you a story a

illustrate that I’ll tell you a story a guy called Wesley decided he wanted to

guy called Wesley decided he wanted to

guy called Wesley decided he wanted to buy a car he’d seen a car in the local

buy a car he’d seen a car in the local

buy a car he’d seen a car in the local area that was for sale a couple of lads

area that was for sale a couple of lads

area that was for sale a couple of lads that he knew was selling this Volvo so

that he knew was selling this Volvo so

that he knew was selling this Volvo so he said can I give it a test drive and

he said can I give it a test drive and

he said can I give it a test drive and they said yep so insured himself on it

they said yep so insured himself on it

they said yep so insured himself on it for the day I wanted to give it a good

for the day I wanted to give it a good

for the day I wanted to give it a good run round so obviously as he’s sitting

run round so obviously as he’s sitting

run round so obviously as he’s sitting in this car he’s driving it about had it

in this car he’s driving it about had it

in this car he’s driving it about had it for a few hours he didn’t actually

for a few hours he didn’t actually

for a few hours he didn’t actually decide you wanted it so he took it back

decide you wanted it so he took it back

decide you wanted it so he took it back back to these brothers two or three days

back to these brothers two or three days

back to these brothers two or three days later this car was used in a drive-by

later this car was used in a drive-by

later this car was used in a drive-by shooting and a 20 something year old

shooting and a 20 something year old

shooting and a 20 something year old father was shot as he was riding his

father was shot as he was riding his

father was shot as he was riding his bicycle and he died

to again later on has the police are

to again later on has the police are investigating they found the car had

investigating they found the car had

investigating they found the car had been burnt out and there was one link

been burnt out and there was one link

been burnt out and there was one link back to Wesley and that was that he

back to Wesley and that was that he

back to Wesley and that was that he ensured himself on that car not only

ensured himself on that car not only

ensured himself on that car not only that there was phone call on his phone

that there was phone call on his phone

that there was phone call on his phone that took him back to the brothers that

that took him back to the brothers that

that took him back to the brothers that were selling the car and when they

were selling the car and when they

were selling the car and when they investigated in the house and found a

investigated in the house and found a

investigated in the house and found a couple of balaclavas and a pair of

couple of balaclavas and a pair of

couple of balaclavas and a pair of gloves where’s these DNA was on the

gloves where’s these DNA was on the

gloves where’s these DNA was on the gloves where they hadn’t been in worn

gloves where they hadn’t been in worn

gloves where they hadn’t been in worn those gloves whereas they hadn’t been in

those gloves whereas they hadn’t been in

those gloves whereas they hadn’t been in the car when the shooting occurred but

the car when the shooting occurred but

the car when the shooting occurred but the guys who were wearing those gloves

the guys who were wearing those gloves

the guys who were wearing those gloves had held on to the steering wheel and

had held on to the steering wheel and

had held on to the steering wheel and the gear stick so Wesley’s DNA had

the gear stick so Wesley’s DNA had

the gear stick so Wesley’s DNA had transferred them to those gloves and to

transferred them to those gloves and to

transferred them to those gloves and to cut a long story short although he had a

cut a long story short although he had a

cut a long story short although he had a watertight alibi which of course the

watertight alibi which of course the

watertight alibi which of course the police weren’t going to believe because

police weren’t going to believe because

police weren’t going to believe because his DNA was on the gloves and he did

his DNA was on the gloves and he did

his DNA was on the gloves and he did know these brothers DNA was he’s now

know these brothers DNA was he’s now

know these brothers DNA was he’s now doing 27 years for murder so it’s a

doing 27 years for murder so it’s a

doing 27 years for murder so it’s a cautionary tale and to be fair that sort

cautionary tale and to be fair that sort

cautionary tale and to be fair that sort of thing doesn’t happen that often but

of thing doesn’t happen that often but

of thing doesn’t happen that often but the point is that if we are going to be

the point is that if we are going to be

the point is that if we are going to be using one nanometer of DNA to identify

using one nanometer of DNA to identify

using one nanometer of DNA to identify somebody when it can be moved into

somebody when it can be moved into

somebody when it can be moved into somewhere else as easily as that

somewhere else as easily as that

somewhere else as easily as that everywhere you go DNA is passed

everywhere you go DNA is passed

everywhere you go DNA is passed everything you touch your passing a DNA

everything you touch your passing a DNA

everything you touch your passing a DNA on if you pick up one of those Bibles in

on if you pick up one of those Bibles in

on if you pick up one of those Bibles in the pews in front of you you’re getting

the pews in front of you you’re getting

the pews in front of you you’re getting somebody else’s DNA on your hands which

somebody else’s DNA on your hands which

somebody else’s DNA on your hands which you could take home if someone drives

you could take home if someone drives

you could take home if someone drives your car and then you drive it and go

your car and then you drive it and go

your car and then you drive it and go somewhere else in the country a friend

somewhere else in the country a friend

somewhere else in the country a friend of ours off and burrows our car so her

of ours off and burrows our car so her

of ours off and burrows our car so her DNA could be in our cottage in Cornwall

DNA could be in our cottage in Cornwall

DNA could be in our cottage in Cornwall because she’s past had a DNA it’s just a

because she’s past had a DNA it’s just a

because she’s past had a DNA it’s just a case of maybe we should be looking at

case of maybe we should be looking at

case of maybe we should be looking at larger DNA samples when we’re looking

larger DNA samples when we’re looking

larger DNA samples when we’re looking for who they belonged to and where they

for who they belonged to and where they

for who they belonged to and where they were at the time that it was passed on

were at the time that it was passed on

were at the time that it was passed on to something thank

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