AnAustralian-basedscientistannouncedyesterdayhehadmadeastepforwardinforensic(用于法庭的)DNAtestingsothatanindividualcanbeidentifiedbyasinglecell．IanFindlayfromtheAustralianGenomeResearchFacilityatt

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An Australian-based scientist announced yesterday he had made a step forward in forensic(用于法庭的) DNA testing so that an individual can be identified by a single cell．

Ian Findlay from the Australian Genome Research Facility at the University of Queensland said current DNA testing required 200 to 500 cells to gain a similar level of accuracy．

“What we have done has brought that down to one cell ” Dr．Findlay said after releasing details of his DNA testing technique at a Sydney conference．

The technology could allow investigators to pick up DNA identities from plastic cards and even build up a complete history of the people who have handled a paper document．

“You’d have to wear a space suit to stop yourself from leaving traces．You can identify cells on the paper so you can work out where it’s come from and who’s touched it．” he said．

The technique could also be used to trace the thrower of a punch from cells left Behind on the skin of their victim．Even the wearing of latex gloves would not help; small cells can pass through the gloves and the constant flow of genetic material given off by the human body would leave further evidence．

“we gained a skin cell from a document dating back 30 years and managed to gain a DNA fingerprint．DNA evidence can remain fresh for decades perhaps even centuries．” Dr．Findlay said．

“The potential for this technology to solve unsolved crimes is great．” he said．

But Dr．Findlay named scientist of the year in 1998 by the European Society of Human Genetics said the new testing needed to be scientifically validated which would take up to five years．

He said “These are serious consequence taking on technology too early．The public has to be sure that they have the utmost confidence in the security and court systems．”

1．The main advantage of the new technology is that ．

A．a single cell can identify an individual

B．it has brought down the cost of DNA testing

C．a higher level of accuracy can be acquired with a single cell

D．it needs less than 200 cells to gain a certain level of accuracy

2．The underlined word “validated” means “ ” ．

A．confirmed B．imagined C．supposed D．criticized

3．According to Ian Findlay the new technology can ．

A．help to keep DNA evidence fresh for decades and even centuries

B．make the process of DNA testing much more simplified

C．help to pick up DNA identities more easily

D．be wildly used in five years at most