How long does DNA last?

The Guardian

Human DNA has been recovered from a Neanderthal fossil 70,000 years old. That's a record, but there may be plenty of DNA recoverable from a human body 10, 50 or even 150 years after death.

The bodies of the Romanov royal family, executed during the Russian revolution, were identified from DNA comparison in the last decade. US scientists recently confirmed the death of the outlaw Jesse James after they exhumed a disputed corpse. Time, says Mark Thomas, a forensic anthropologist at University College London, is not really the problem, even in the tragic circumstances of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

The technique of DNA sampling is less than 20 years old, but has become standard practice the world over. Standards, however, are not quite the same the world over, which may be why a Japanese forensic delegation has announced that it will re-examine all the bodies originally handled by Thai experts, why China has offered to collate the data, why a US team has announced that it will handle the samples from all "foreign-looking" victims, and why the Israeli government sent a 19-member team to help search for Israeli victims.

Both volunteers and resident experts have a host of challenges - stricken relatives, rapidly decaying bodies and damaged infrastructure for a start - but at least time is on their side. DNA is vulnerable. It breaks down in sunlight and water, and there are enzymes that naturally destroy it. But long after death, samples would survive in teeth and bones. Police forensic scientists - often working with only the tiniest samples from a fingerprint or a spatter of saliva - have to worry about the possibility of contamination. But the teams of forensic experts working in Thailand to identify the thousands of victims have no such worries.Read more.

Read all about semen,sperm and DNA specimen here.

All about DNA testing here.

Japanese - Coolest People On Earth

Hantu Laut

Watching live over TV the tragic aftermath of the earthquake and tsunamis that hit Japan recently smitten me to see how impassive and dignified the Japanese people are in times of tragedy and tribulations.There was no chaos, no unruliness, no looting and hardly anyone showing state of despair even in the face of such forlorn landscape of brutal destruction.

It's heart-rending and my heart goes out to them.

Even in such great devastation and desperation the Japanese people have been very cool, calm and collected and accepted their fates with quiet dignity.A cultural trait not seen in many other Asian societies.

I remember seeing a footage of the great flood in Pakistan last year and saw how unruly and indiscipline the Pakistanis were when foods were distributed to victims of the flood and the same can be said of Africa and other parts of Asia.

It brought me back to the eighties when I visited Japan quite frequently on business and had good taste of the unique Japanese culture some what different from other parts of Asia.A contemporary hybrid culture that mixes the influences of Asia,Europe and North America.The traditional and the contemporary.

The Japanese are known for perfecting what they copied not only in technology but in social etiquette as well.A fusion culture that have made the Japanese probably the most discipline people on this planet.

Punctuality, which is more peculiar to the West and not your garden-variety in most of Asia is the exception in Japan.The Japanese are now better timekeeper than even the Westerners and frown upon those who are late.Of the many appointments I had with my Japanese clients not in any instance as far as I can remember any of them have been late.They usually called my room at least 15 minutes before the appointed time announcing their presence in the hotel lobby.

For those who have visited Japan they would also have noticed most Japanese would not cross the road if the light is red even if there were no cars, which baffled me on my first visit to Japan, wondering what was wrong with them.

What was wrong?....... it's not with them, it was me, a typical Malaysian alien to a culture of discipline.I soon learn to be like them but only in Japan and reverted to the Malaysian bad habits as soon as I got home.

Tokyo, or any of the big city have little or no street crimes then.I can walk the streets late at night without worrying about being mugged.

In Japan if you forgetfully left your thing any place there is hundred percent chance you'll get it back. I remember once I left my overcoat on a train from Tokyo to Niigata and only remembered hours later.I could not believe that I would ever get it back.Surprisingly, I did, from the Niigata train station.How they knew I disembarked at Niigata is still a mystery to me.

Throughout history Japan has been isolated in one way or another.For hundred of years under the Tokugawa shogunate it kept its doors close to foreigners until abolished by the Meiji restoration period.

The tragic earthquake, tsunamis and a potential radiation fallout from broken reactors will have far-reaching economic repercussions for Japan but with the diligent and positive attitude of the Japanese people it will not be a bridge too far to cross.

Let us hope and pray for the well being of Japan and its people.

Untameable Ferocities Of Mother Nature

Hantu Laut

The recent earthquake that hit Japan and the subsequent tsunamis that unleashed its destructive power showed how powerless humans are when confronted with this most furious of natural disasters.

Unlike the power of wind we have yet to find ways how to predict where and when it will occur.

These are heart-wrenching scenes of the destructive power of nature that human have yet to learn to tame.

A reminder that we are still defenceless against the ferocities of Mother Nature.













Please pray for Japan.

After The Tsunami

Hantu Laut

Sent by a friend.First time I have seen it.

Selepas Tsunami (After the Tsunami) from Pusat KOMAS on Vimeo.

I must admit this is a well made documentary selling the Pakatan's doctrine.It is as good as made for TV documentary.Haris Ibrahim is eloquent commentator.

Whether what were depicted and portrayed in the film were actually practised on the ground is hard to tell.Those who watch it can easily be swayed.

The only drawback is the witch-hunting in the beginning.Otherwise, it is a very good and productive production.