In the case of the Shroud, contamination as well as degradation might preclude an effective (full) analysis, although some information might be obtainable. For freshly isolated, intact DNA, such regions are routinely used in DNA fingerprinting analysis. There are also noncoding DNA segments (that exist in between genes) which are polymorphic, termed microsatellite regions or short tandem repeat (STR) regions. The most polymorphic genes in humans are the class I and class II HLA genes when a person is typed in organ transplantation for a suitable match, it is HLA expression that is being examined. Any such analysis would have to begin here. There are a certain genes within the body that are polymorphic (poly = many and morphic = shape or form), that is, they show significant variation among unrelated individuals. Unless a person has a specific variation (mutation) in the gene, there is no way of discerning whom it came from or if it is actually a mixture of DNA from various individuals. Most genes expressed in humans are the same from one individual to another. DNA from specific individuals: As Mario points out, this is much more difficult. Regarding the Shroud, Garza-Valdes reported this for three genes: betaglobin (a hemoglobin subunit), amelogenin X, and amelogenin Y the latter two are located on the X and Y chromosomes, respectively.Ģ. One can use tailor made probes to target specific gene sequences that are unique to higher organisms/humans. DNA from other organisms versus human DNA: It is not so difficult to sort out human DNA from that of other species. There are also some related comments & discussion in a previous posting: Cloning the Man on the Shroud of Turin.ġ. For anyone that wants to cut to the chase regarding the original question, go to 4. Here’s a combined response to both the original question and the comments that followed. The supposition that there is probably only one “genetic code” or that “there could be two genetic codes” is, I am afraid, very far from what you will find. In any case, there appears to be no way to infer that one individual was missing some genomics material. And you would have to identify DNA sequences coming from mitochondria and other organelles and there will be no certain way to attach these different sequences to specific individuals. You can imagine identifying which organisms some of the DNA segments come from, but individuals? Reconstruct the entire DNA of one individual? The DNA material would have to be in very good shape and recent. On the Shroud you will have DNA segments of individuals (homo sapiens), animals, fungus, bacteria, and so on, in the hundreds. How do you sort out these segments? This is metagenomics (something we are planning to work on in our research group, see work on metagenomics ). Extract a bucket of water from the ocean and you will have tens and probably hundreds of organisms providing DNA segments.
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