Latest News:  
Beijing   Sunny/Cloudy    16 / 6 ℃  City Forecast

English>>China Society

Rare mutation solves murder

(Shanghai Daily)

09:15, November 12, 2012

DETECTION of a rare genetic mutation finally helped police in northwest China's Shaanxi Province identify a rape and murder suspect from a pair of identical twins, Chinese Business View reported yesterday.

The mutation in genes happens only in one in 10,000 people and a search showed no other case of it being documented in only one identical twin in the world, according to experts from the Center for DNA Typing of the Fourth Military Medical University.

Local police looking for a missing girl in Qishan County in June discovered she had been raped and murdered.

Police located a suspect in the girl's neighborhood. His DNA matched genetic material at the crime scene, and the suspect confessed, police said.

However, the suspect had an identical twin brother who also lived in the neighborhood.

Prosecutors said police needed to rule out involvement of the brother, who is younger by a few minutes.

"For judicial fairness, we must confirm which of the twins conducted the crime, or if both did, and find other evidence," said Li Hongxu, vice director of Qishan County Police Bureau. "If the technical methods don't work, we must have other evidence such as witnesses."

"It is the first time that we receive such a case," said Wu Yuanming, the DNA center director. "It is a difficult task to identify differences in identical twins anywhere."

Scientists had a surprising finding: The younger brother was found to have the rare mutation of a gene, which didn't happen to the elder brother.

Samples from the scene confirmed the elder brother was the suspect, police said.

Recommended News:
People have fun at Angry Birds theme park Sexy models and fancy cars rock Hangzhou auto show Flash mobs dance 'Gangnam Style'
Panda travels home and away Students receive cabin attendant training for A320 Exciting performance on motorcycle
China's new-type rescue ship to be put into service   Hospital with five-star facilities open Austrian-born panda arrives a 'happy tiger'



Email|Print|Comments(Editor:马茜、梁军)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Devil training of PLA

  2. Weekly review of military photos

  3. Most expensive diamonds in the world

  4. Shanxi's grain production to hit record high

  5. Heavy snowfall hits N China's Hohhot

  6. Taobao bonanza breaks records

  7. Shanghai Int'l Puppet Festival opens

  8. Subway Sex Crimes—Who’s at Fault?

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Growth of for-profit hospitals should be limited
  2. Mahjong: to protect or to crack down?
  3. Commertary: Finding a dynamic balance
  4. Central bank to use more open-market operation
  5. Commentary: Have confidence in China
  6. Chicagoans await election with mixed feelings
  7. Confident beginning paves way for happy marriage
  8. How many 'Anna Kareninas' lost in marriage
  9. 'Summer Palace' not labeled as speculations
  10. Govt still needs hand in rare earths

What’s happening in China

Beijing experiences windy weather, temperature drop

  1. City unlocks restrooms for public
  2. 'Grid system' ensures well-being of the elderly
  3. China sees fewer accident deaths in 10 months
  4. Singles declare love ... for online shopping
  5. More blizzards expected in NE China