Suelos e Investigaciones Criminales (Proyecto MiSAFE)
Ya sabéis que me suelo quejar de la falta de imaginación de la comunidad de expertos en la Ciencia del Suelo con vistas a abrir nuevas fronteras de investigación y oportunidades de trabajo. Sin embargo, como os muestro hoy, surgen contadas pero interesantes excepciones. No me resulta extraño recibir noticias que incumben a iniciativas españolas de la prensa norteamericana, ante el desdén de la española de todo lo que no atañe al establishment de la ciencia patria. En este post os muestro la última noticia que he recibido de la red social Soil Science Professionals. En ella se habla de un nuevo proyecto de investigación con vistas a utilizar la ciencia del suelo en las investigaciones criminales. Se trata un consorcio de países que se beneficiará de financiación procedente de la Unión Europea denominado MiSAFE
Tal iniciativa se encuentra liderada por la Universidad Hebrea de Jerusalén, con la participación de Instituciones de Dinamarca, Francia, Israel, y como novedad la Guardia Civil Española (aunque no veo centro de investigación español alguno, hecho que sería lamentable).
Pues bien el objetivo perseguido es investigar en el suelo aspectos relevantes a actos criminales e ir avanzando por una vía poco explorada, para operacionalizar y armonizar métodos y protocolos de análisis, conservación de muestras, y algo más que os describo abajo. etc. No obstante cabe recordar que ya existen antecedentes (escasos, pero ahí están), como el que os mostré en este post hace unos años: Edafología Forense ¿Una Nueva Disciplina Aplicada?. Por cierto, como en aquella ocasión los escoceses también merodean por aquí. Ya sea el investigar como extraer el DNA del suelo, cual puede ser tiempo de persistencia del DNA humano en el medio edáfico (siempre variable en función del tipo de edafotaxa, como de diversas condiciones ambientales) y otras evidencias traza que puede proporcionarnos este recurso natural parecen ser materia de atención. Varios de los comentarios que abajo podéis leer se me antojan típicos de esos telefilmes que nos ofrece la Televisión: series de Mentes Criminales, CSI, etc., En el proyecto se pretenden utilizar las nuevas y potentes técnicas de secuenciación genómica, así como crear una base de datos Paneuropea de comunidades microbianas y otros aspectos que se consideren importantes en criminología. Tal iniciativa atesora un blog, (de momento tan solo en la lengua del imperio, es decir el Suajili) y algún tipo de divulgación de libre acceso al público. Sin embargo, la página Web apenas acaba de iniciar su andadura a día de hoy, como para atesorar gran cantidad de información. Por cierto, buscando en Internet también he vista que existe Máster Oficial en Ciencias de la Seguridad y Criminología, por si os interesa a algunos de los lectores. Os dejo pues con alguna documentación introductoria en la lengua de los bárbaros, por cuanto lamentablemente no he escritos en español-castellano.
Juan José Ibáñez
Página Web de Misafe Introducción
The body of microbial ecology and microbial soil forensics studies strongly suggest that DNA-based technologies are ripe for forensic analyses implementation, discriminating between sites, even between closely related sites. Some countries have started to consider that soil is the source of evidence with the greatest potential to produce forensic information, but there are no properly established methodologies to exploit it in criminal investigations (Interpol, 2010). Yet, for soil microbial profiling techniques to become a tool for the matching of samples adequate for forensics applications limitations pertaining to DNA extraction, temporal sampling biases, storage conditions and sample size variables have to be overcome.
Consequently, to achieve the highest attainable precision in soil forensics analysis there is a need for the development and implementation of more effective protocols and working procedures, based on the most powerful DNA sequencing technologies such as massive parallel sequencing. In addition, a pan-European database of soil microbial communities and soil properties is required; such a database, available to EU law-enforcement agencies, will allow the matching of forensic soil samples to known soil data across Europe, and thus the geographical determination of the soil
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DNA fingerprinting for soils might soon help catch criminals Sounds like an interesting…
DNA fingerprinting for soils might soon help catch criminals hutton.ac.uk
The MiSAFE project, coordinated by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), with partners Libragen (France), CLCbio (Denmark), Ecole Centrale de Lyon (France), Israeli Police (Israel), Guardia Civil Española (Spain) and the James Hutton…
DNA fingerprinting for soils might soon help catch criminals
«This project will lead to a better understanding of the impact of storage, sample handling and soil variability on such genetic attributes; essential before use in a criminal court of law.
In certain criminal cases, soil, mud or vegetation on, or from, a vehicle or foot, clothing or implements may provide the clue that could point to a particular search location.
However, these attributes are generally only used in high profile forensic investigations because of their complexity and the required specialised facilities and expertise necessary for their analysis and interpretation. This might change soon thanks to an international effort by soil scientists, whose aim is to enable law enforcement forces to use soil as a forensic tool to catch criminals in a stronger, quicker and more affordable way.
The MiSAFE project, coordinated by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), with partners Libragen (France), CLCbio (Denmark), Ecole Centrale de Lyon (France), Israeli Police (Israel), Guardia Civil Española (Spain) and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, with funding from the European Union, aims to provide forensic practitioners with a microbial genetic profiling tool that could bring soil into routine forensic investigation and judicial proceedings. This would also provide opportunities for European high-tech enterprises to lead this new field of environmental genetic forensics.
In the context of forensic investigations, soils are an underused, powerful resource that can provide compelling data that a given person or object was present or absent from a particular location. Even a small sample of soil contains extensive information: its mineralogy, as well as the organic and biological elements present in it can be analysed to provide signatures as to its origin.
Professor Lorna Dawson, leader of Soil Forensics at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen, explains why soils can be the perfect contact trace material.
“Soil covers the majority of the terrestrial surface, and people customarily have some contact with it. It is unconsolidated, which means it is readily transferable, and besides its mineral and organic elements, it is also an enormous reservoir of genetic information contained in the myriad species of micro-organisms inhabiting it, which has as yet been relatively unexplored in forensic case work.
«This project will lead to a better understanding of the impact of storage, sample handling and soil variability on such genetic attributes; essential before use in a criminal court of law. It will also test the analysis of even smaller sample sizes using molecular tools.
“This information can now be made available to the investigator relatively easily. The development and implementation of novel and evolving technologies, such as this genetic information, would enable the more routine use of soil in investigations, whether that be in a civil or criminal legal context, and thus bridge a security gap, benefiting civil European and global security.”
This two year project, involving scientists, top legal and forensic experts, police practitioners and industrial stakeholders, will deliver a useable genetic forensic tool, with associated operating practice guidelines, while also widening its application to environmental and ecological disciplines.
Notes to editors
The MiSAFE project kickoff meeting is taking place at the James Hutton Institute site in Aberdeen, Craigiebuckler, AB15 8QH, until Thursday 18 September 2013, with presentations from project partners plus Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland and the Robert Gordon University.
More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media and External Relations Coordinator, Tel: 01224 395089 (direct line) or 0844 928 5428 (switchboard) or 07791 193918 (mobile) or Lorraine Wakefield, Content Manager, Tel: 01382 568749 (direct line) or 0844 928 5428 (switchboard) or 07964 777906 (mobile).
September 17, 2013