A new database of canine DNA is being developed by researchers at King's College London and the Royal Veterinary College to help UK police identify dogs at crime scenes. The database, which currently covers 80 breeds, aims to provide vital clues in cases ranging from kidnappings to livestock attacks, potentially identifying a dog's breed or even a specific animal.
The development of a comprehensive canine DNA database could provide law enforcement with a powerful new tool to solve crimes, potentially offering crucial evidence in cases where human leads are scarce and helping to identify or exclude animal involvement.
Experts are hoping a database of canine DNA could offer vital leads to UK police, assisting in investigations where traces of animal material are found at crime scenes. Professor Denise Syndercombe Court, a forensics expert at King’s College London, is leading the initiative, which aims to leverage canine DNA to provide intelligence in human cases, such as kidnappings, or to directly link a dog to a crime.
The research, a collaboration between King's College London and the Royal Veterinary College, focuses on analyzing short tandem repeats (STRs) in DNA, similar to human forensic analysis. This method examines the number of repetitions in small DNA segments, creating a unique profile for individual dogs. The current database covers 80 different breeds, with at least 50 samples for each of the 10 most common breeds, including labradors, cocker spaniels, and miniature schnauzers.
This allows for comparison with DNA found at a crime scene to either confirm or rule out a specific dog's involvement, or to screen against the database to identify the breed of an unknown dog. The team also plans to expand the database to include banned breeds like pitbull terriers and American XL bullies. An alternative approach using mitochondrial DNA sequencing, which is more useful when very little material is available, has also been developed.
Early applications of the technology have already provided insights. In one case, DNA analysis of a T-shirt with holes suggested a man's injuries were caused by his own dogs, not another person as he claimed, with DNA from two different dogs found on the garment. In another instance, DNA analysis helped identify the breed of a dog involved in a sheep attack, excluding the breed initially suspected by police.
Dr. Nicholas Dawnay, a forensics expert at Liverpool John Moores University, highlighted the importance of this research for matching individual dogs to attacks on humans, livestock, or wildlife. However, he also pointed out the significant challenge of funding for canine forensic casework, noting that stretched police budgets could hinder the realization of the research's benefits.
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