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74 Comments
- russellnation, on 10/11/2007, -5/+76this just in, the analysis can also tell if you have a finger.
- chucksmooth, on 10/11/2007, -3/+55this just in, barry bonds removes his fingertips with sandpaper
- oOLiquidNightOo, on 10/11/2007, -4/+55if your finger tips are yellow you're a smoker, shaky you're an avid coffee drinker, have trackmarks between them you're a drug addict.
- catalysis, on 10/11/2007, -3/+37You are the coolest person I know.
- davidleeroth, on 10/11/2007, -2/+27Images that show how fingerprints can be used to reveal whether you are a smoker, an avid coffee drinker or even a drug addict have been revealed by UK scientists.
They were produced using a novel forensic technique that could in future be used on fingerprints collected at a crime scene. If the prints in question are not on file, this would still give police a powerful way to shrink their pool of suspects, by identifying their lifestyle habits.
The technique was developed by a team of forensics experts at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, and King's College in London, both in the UK.
It exploits the fact that the breakdown products - metabolites - of substances people consume are deposited in sweat found in pores in their fingerprint ridges. To detect these metabolites they use gold nanoparticles.
Washing no defence
The researchers, led by David Russell at UEA, claimed in 2006 that fingerprints could be used in this way (see Fingerprints reveal lifestyle habits. Now they have shown that it works in practise, even shortly after someone has washed their hands.
The team designed a system capable of detecting cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. This metabolite was chosen because simple contact with a cigarette or tobacco is not enough to produce it.
To detect cotinine, a fingerprint is simply dabbed with a solution containing gold nanoparticles with attached antibodies that bind to the metabolite.
Then a second antibody that binds to the cotinine antibodies and is marked with a fluorescent dye is applied. If the owner of the print is a smoker, shining light on it will reveal a florescent glow along its ridge patterns.
Besides extending the test to antibodies capable of detecting alcohol and illicit drugs, Russell thinks the technique could be used to detect performance-enhancing drug use in sport.
Journal reference: Angewandte Chemie International Edition (vol 46, p 4100) - ruminate, on 10/11/2007, -3/+25Just what the world needs another way for big brother to butt into your business.
- thefirstenemy, on 10/11/2007, -2/+23@ t4z3r
Haven't had that morning cigarette yet? - Squeetard, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15Don't crack pipes burn off you fingerprints?
- idonthack, on 10/11/2007, -4/+18If they have straight red grooves across them you're a newbie guitar player. Ow.
</almost_regretting_it> - KloroFormd, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13@hotsake,
Yeah, I smoke plenty of "tobacco" from metal pipes too... ;) - liquidfirex, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12This has the possibility for huge repercussions, biggest things to hit CSI since DNA IMO.
- mattmollysdad, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9better wear gloves...like all the time
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -4/+13Perhaps they should say drugs *users*, I can quit heroin whenever I want...
- KibibyteBrain, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7@homet This test method is very easy to interfere with. You could apply an enzyme lotion to your hands to neutralize the antibodies on contact, thereby making this pretty useless. Also, antibodies usually are pretty liberal as to what they will react with, and would definitely react with several types of substances with similar properties. This is definitely not "best evidence" in any way, more of just a lead. Also, this stuff doesn't sound cheap to start with, and after the patent police are satisfied, would probably be ungodly expensive.
- FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7oh, crap
- dawglse, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6When will these people learn?
diggs DO NOT = page views... You can look at a site without digging it! - drjekelmrhyde, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6Can they tell if you're a constant masturbator
- Homet, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7Thank you for saying so rhavenn. I'm all for using this technique for use in something such as a murder scene, but this has obvious repercussions for pot users. What if you've quit for a month, but with this technique they can still detect that you used weed. Yeah I know there are hair tests, but those are expensive. With this they could just spread the substance on your fingers and if they turn blue, you don't get the job.
- ksponge, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6Keep making new drug tests and I'll keep finding new ways to pass them.
"ksponge, passing drug tests since... well since i started working!" - ElbridgeGerry, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6dammit, insurance companies are going to use this, you know it
- RockSlice, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5@dawglse:
technically correct, but more diggs typically mean more page views, and vice versa - lithite, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8I certainly can't agree with the response you've garnered, but I do have to say that there is a problem of people disliking smokers. I say that being severely obese is a choice, and that they may be addicted to food. Alcoholism is another problem, but when alcoholics drink, they can be destructive. And yet, when smokers smoke, nothing happens. so why the stigma?
- shlolz, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7http://duggmirror.com/general_sciences/New_fingerprint_analysis_identifies_smokers_3/
Edit, can't make it work. - rnwen2750, on 10/11/2007, -5/+9"When smokers smoke, nothing happens."
I disagree entirely. I have every respect for people who smoke. I feel empathy for them because it is a hard habit to kick. However, when smokers start smoking in a house with children (or worse, in their car with children), littering, or spitting all over my lawn, I think they are gross and need to change. - fkr3, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Wouldn't it be easier if we just wore "yellow stars"?
That way you wouldn't need a fingerprint analysis, you could just look at us and persecute us from the get go. - JTMON, on 10/11/2007, -2/+51984 called and wants it's technology back.
How Gattica! - Technopundit, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Only if you're also addicted to Cheetos.
- Technopundit, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Where have you been for the past 20 years?
- hagbard72, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Between stuff like this, and the "new and improved" military hardware, I now see why we need hackers and virus creators to save us from the brave new world.
- zombiemosess, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3@lithite
"And yet, when smokers smoke, nothing happens. so why the stigma?"
Some people don't like the smell of cigarette smoke. It "stinks" to them. Therefore they aren't going to want to smell it and when they do it upsets them. Compare it to say if you smelled a really gross fart that actually made you cough from the smell. I for one have grown to rather like the smell of smoke. Especially from brush fires or campfires. - KibibyteBrain, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Or dip your hands in a weird chemical mixture that will basically false positive as everything everyday...
- thatbox, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Good job, ksponge!!
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5I think this whole smoking stench problem could have been fixed if they'd make the cigarettes have flavors like pipe tobacco does, which I love smelling.
- Hegemony, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"To detect cotinine, a fingerprint is simply dabbed with a solution containing gold nanoparticles with attached antibodies that bind to the metabolite.
Then a second antibody that binds to the cotinine antibodies and is marked with a fluorescent dye is applied. If the owner of the print is a smoker, shining light on it will reveal a florescent glow along its ridge patterns."
Also known as a western blot. It's not really revolutionary. - theguy23, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3You mean the DNA tests that may produce unreliable results due to chimerism?
I kid, I kid. I'd love to see this on CSI. - Technopundit, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Sorry, we can't have people going around being unique.
- synthox, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Gattaca anyone??
- lithite, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I can certainly see those points.
That said, people don't, as I said, scoff at alcoholics. People don't scoff at food addicts. Or addicts of almost any sort, for that matter.
And yet, smokers are immediately treated as though they are horrible people. It's a habit that I kicked a while ago, and it really wasn't easy. Do you think that people say that getting drunk is good for your health? No. People start for complicated reasons. Could be family life, social, or because it feels good. But it's usually more complicated than that. Same with smoking.
The important thing is that, as a society, we love to latch on to certain things and call them bad. Honestly, it wasn't long ago that we would have yelled at alcoholics, because we really didn't understand that addiction sucks. I just can't understand why, after so many years, people still don't get that addiction sucks when it comes to tobacco, too. - Boshow, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@buster99
"Because non-smokers can't understand how anyone could do something they know will harm them."
Seems like goodie-two-shoes over here has never got into a fight, taken a dare, or got drunk. - inukki, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Thanks, I thought I was the only one who knew I was the coolest
You just made my whole day! even the Month!
dugg down for being too cool - Murdats, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4hit a nerve hey?
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Metal is ***** for tobacco. Hence why no-one will believe you.
- diggeon, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3All your body are belong to us!
- Technopundit, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2They already have saliva tests for this. You wipe your gums or tongue with a swab.
- kidd3ckz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Seth is that you?
You are so fired. - jellygraph, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2And who cares???
We _BETTER_ not have to care!
(Don't you ***** start fingerprinting me, *****!) - kavaliro, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2meh. Employers in France still believe handwriting analysis to be an accurate means of judging a person. This new stupidity, right along with handwriting analysis, is more akin to astrology than actual science. It's garbage. Pay no attention to it.
- CogitatorX, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5Yippie! Another method for the government and Big Bidness to use to interfere in our "private" lives.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Every study says smoking is not cause and effect. It is just one factor in many that raises your risk of getting a disease. Non-smokers get lung cancer, emphysema and other diseases blamed on smoking. Smoking may raise your risk slightly of getting a disease, like driving a car raise your risk of getting into a serious car accident. These death numbers are all conjecture and are bullsh!t. Most 2 pack a day smokers live past 80 years old.
- sshhaammss, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1well sheit if it wurnt for cigrets we'd kill all yall whiny folks
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