Intellectual property and the ethical/legal status of human DNA: The (ir)relevance of context

There has been much discussion in recent years about the ethical and legal status of human DNA. This topic is of great relevance and importance to Aboriginal communities because the question of who has the right of access to and control over the DNA of individual persons, or of DNA extracted from human remains, could have implications for an entire community. In another context an individual’s decision to contribute a blood sample for health research could reveal much about the health status of other members of the community. Who has the right to control access to DNA or a community’s narrative of its origins? While some have argued that human DNA should be considered cultural property in order to ensure appropriate control of genetic information, we question the wisdom of this approach. Although we acknowledge that the differing contexts in which DNA is extracted and utilised could require unique approaches in some circumstances, we argue that emphasis should be primarily on the nature of the relationships established and maintained between researchers and descendant communities and only secondarily on the unique status of the DNA itself.

Feather barbs as a good source of mtDNA for bird species identification in forensic wildlife investigations

Background

The ability to accurately identify bird species is crucial for wildlife law enforcement and bird-strike investigations. However, such identifications may be challenging when only partial or damaged feathers are available for analysis.

Results

By applying vigorous contamination controls and sensitive PCR amplification protocols, we found that it was feasible to obtain accurate mitochondrial (mt)DNA-based species identification with as few as two feather barbs. This minimally destructive DNA approach was successfully used and tested on a variety of bird species, including North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), blue heron (Ardea herodias) and pygmy owl (Glaucidium californicum). The mtDNA was successfully obtained from 'fresh' feathers, historic museum specimens and archaeological samples, demonstrating the sensitivity and versatility of this technique.

Conclusions

By applying appropriate contamination controls, sufficient quantities of mtDNA can be reliably recovered and analyzed from feather barbs. This previously overlooked substrate provides new opportunities for accurate DNA species identification when minimal feather samples are available for forensic analysis.