Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Thu, February 19, 2009 Forensic DNA Shown to Lower Crime Rates and Decrease Property Loss
CARLSBAD, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE), today announced that its forensic DNA solutions are successfully being used for a broader range of criminal investigations that include non-violent crimes, such as burglaries, auto thefts and other property crimes. These technologies are assisting law enforcement agencies, such as the [ Denver Crime Laboratory Bureau ] to reduce property crimes by more than 30%, saving more than $5 million in police costs and preventing an estimated $36.8 million of property loss during the past three years.
By using forensic DNA solutions for non-violent crimes, the Denver Crime Laboratory Bureau reported doubling the identification of suspects as well as successfully prosecuting twice as many property crime cases.
Property crimes are one of the most significant economic issues in the United States, accounting for $17.6 billion in financial losses for property owners in 2007, according to [ FBI statistics ]. Of those cases, less than 17% were actually solved. Applying forensic DNA to investigate these crimes is an emerging best practice for law enforcement that is being employed in Denver and other municipalities.
"The power of forensic DNA to solve violent crimes has been well documented over the past several years," said Sonny Jackson, Public Information Officer for the Denver Police Department. "We see forensic DNA as a great tool that allows us to look at all facets of crime, including property crimes."
Recent advancements by Applied Biosystems have made the processing of DNA evidence more streamlined and accelerated, allowing more widespread use of this powerful technology. This includes automating routine DNA analysis and providing computerized forensic expert software systems that facilitate more efficient manual review of complex samples. These new tools are enabling higher productivity in forensic laboratories, leading to faster analysis and more cost-effective investigations.
"Streamlining forensic DNA testing is enabling law enforcement agencies to apply this powerful technology that was once reserved almost exclusively for violent crimes to a broader range of case work evidence." said [ Leonard Klevan, Ph.D. ], Division President of Applied Biosystems' Applied Markets business. "The power of this technology in helping to prosecute as well as prevent crimes in Denver can be successfully replicated elsewhere, as we continue to make 21st-century forensic technologies accessible to agencies and laboratories around the world."
Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. It is a market leader in [ forensic DNA solutions ] that include genetic analyzers, reagent kits, PCR and Real-Time PCR systems and software applications. Applied Biosystems, along with Invitrogen – a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics – is part of Life Technologies. Together, Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen provide the broadest portfolio of forensic DNA technologies available from a single company. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world.
For more information, please visit: [ www.appliedbiosystems.com ] and [ www.invitrogen.com ]. Additional resources about forensic science can also be found at [ www.aafs.org ].
About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: [ www.lifetechnologies.com ].
Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved.
