It turns out that all the DNA mapping work is not for us, but for law enforcement.

By Scott Beaulieu

Toward Accurate Traceability: The National Marijuana DNA Database

WEST HAVEN, CONN. — A University of New Haven forensic scientist is building a national database for marijuana DNA that will allow law enforcement to track the origin of the drug when an arrest is made . Heather Miller Coyle, associate professor at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, is a forensic botanist. She also developed a new method for collecting the genetic fingerprint of marijuana, making it easier for law enforcement to collect samples at the scene of a case..

New frontier in the fight against drug trafficking: DNA and crime

The DNA mapping initiative will allow law enforcement, for the first time, to track the origin of marijuana and link it to criminal organizations such as drug trafficking networks in Mexico, farmers in Canada or gangs in the United States. The database would be similar to that maintained by the FBI for humans. This database, called CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), allows law enforcement to collect samples from a crime scene and evaluate the DNA profile against a computerized database of samples to help determine identification of suspects in a crime.

Monitoring Criminal Networks on a Global Scale

“Such a database and signature mark would be a valuable tool for police and law enforcement agencies,” said New Haven Police Chief Frank Limon. "It is likely, in some cases, that the conspirators of the overall operation will escape investigation and prosecution. The link between production and distribution would help us establish conspiracy cases against the entire operation – not just dealers and buyers This would effectively connect the dots to street level narcotics distribution.”

The marijuana database Coyle is developing would give police an investigative lead to trace the origin of marijuana and help identify human sources of its distribution. “Plant DNA is like DNA found in humans – it maintains its genetic profile throughout its life,” says Coyle, whose work on the project included UNH students Lindsay Allgeier, Jennifer Nabozny and Nicholas Shirley, among others.

Matching DNA to plants grown on public lands in California, for example, could demonstrate that the crop was planted by people with ties to specific criminal organizations. “If one person has a suitcase of marijuana and another person has bags of marijuana, we will be able to tell if it came from the same batch.”

Although DNA typing was used for crops in the United States, its collection was done in a scientific laboratory rather than in the field. Using Coyle's system, modeled after the human identification system, collection of plant DNA can now be done on a "collection card" or piece of processed paper that efficiently provides the laboratory with a sample to test. The card allows the police to spread the plant on the card in the field, store it, mail it or process it. No bulk samples of marijuana are collected and drugs found at the scene may be destroyed. “A major advantage of using collection cards is that they transform the marijuana sample from a usable drug form to a non-smokable drug format, making research and storage possible at universities,” says She.

Marijuana is a controlled substance and illegal under federal law. Some states have permitted the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, allowing for an affirmative defense if arrested by law enforcement. States like Connecticut, where possession of small amounts has been decriminalized, can obtain marijuana for medical uses. Even if people with marijuana recommendations can grow it at home, they remain at risk of prosecution under the Controlled Substances Act.

Coyle's project was funded by more than $100,000 from the National Marijuana Initiative (NMI) and the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA). NMI and HIDTA work together, with federal, state, and local law enforcement, in the detection, disruption, and investigation of domestic marijuana trafficking, focusing on priorities such as public lands, indoor cultivation activities, medical marijuana/dispensaries, undercover internet programs and forensic science.

Heather Miller Coyle leads groundbreaking DNA database initiative at University of New Haven

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States and has been linked to health problems such as addiction, lung disease, depression and other problems.

Coyle is a geneticist and received her doctorate from the University of New Hampshire. She has worked both for the pharmaceutical industry in high-throughput screening research and for the State of Connecticut Forensic Sciences Laboratory. Developing the marijuana DNA database allows her to combine her experience and training in new ways, she says.

A leader in experiential education, the University of New Haven offers its students a valuable combination of strong liberal arts and practical career training. Founded in 1920, UNH is a leading private university with a 33-acre main campus. The university has more than 5,900 students enrolled: approximately 1,700 graduate students and more than 4,200 undergraduate students, 70% of whom reside in university housing. The university offers 75 undergraduate and graduate degrees through the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, and the University College . University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.

Tracing the Origins and Clones of the Blue Dream

They mapped Blue Dream's DNA. There are for sure 8 different so-called true clones. But somehow they know for sure that Blue Dream is a Super Silver Haze x DJ's Blueberry.

If they can trace the origins of a selected polyhybrid, they may even trace the original breeder of Super Silver Haze aka Shantibaba since Arjan only has females or hermas. Lol

This is the video I'm talking about, I watched it a while ago without thinking anything about law enforcement. But the type of DNA fingerprinting they're talking about will definitely be a great tool for law enforcement. HERE

Source:
Bluntmassa :HERE