title: The role of DNA-stained currency in gang robberies within the United Kingdom.
abstract: Cash-and-valuables-in-transit (CViT) robberies have become a substantial problem-especially in the current global economy. Over £19.4 million were stolen in 2008 and £17.1 million in 2009 in the United Kingdom alone. The transportation of cash and valuable items between financial institutions has long been a target of robberies in the U.K. After a robbery has occurred, police collect evidence in the form of ink-stained currency. These stained notes are submitted for analysis. Samples are subjected to polymerase chain reaction in order to amplify any possible botanically derived DNA markers present on the notes. After amplification, capillary electrophoresis allows for the deciphering of the "DNA profile." The DNA profile is then linked to a particular cash box, and this information is compared with records of whether or not that box had been stolen. The cases below are three such instances where botanically marked currency was used to help solve robberies.
authors.affiliation: Applied DNA Sciences Inc., 50 Health Sciences Dr., Stony Brook, NY, 11790.
authors.forename: Breanna K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Mead
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: MeiLin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karp
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003415:Crime; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010209:Paper; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA typing; authentication; botanical DNA; botanical markers; cash and valuables in transit; forensic science; forensic taggant