SARASOTA, Fla., Oct. 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- DNAPrint genomics, Inc. (OTCBB:DNAG) today announced that its DNAWitness(tm) technology was presented at the annual meeting of National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) in Los Angeles as an effective tool for coroners and medical examiners facing the difficult task of identifying and describing unidentified bodies, a major problem following disasters which result in mass casualties.
Barbara Handelin, Ph.D., Director of Diagnostics at DNAPrint genomics, Inc. discussed the DNAWitness technology in a presentation on the final day of NAME's annual meeting on Wednesday at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The annual meeting, whose theme was "Emerging Issues in Forensics Pathology," was attended by medical examiners and coroners from across the United States and Canada.
Dr. Handelin, a molecular geneticist and an early developer of DNA based tests in medicine and forensics, explained how DNAWitness technology can be utilized in identifying the victims of crimes or disasters.
"John or Jane Doe cases where there are no identifying personal effects or anyone who can provide positive identification of a victim are not uncommon challenges in the coroner or ME's office and typify mass casualty situations such as the tsunami in Southeast Asia," Dr. Handelin said following her presentation. "In many cases, the remains may be too degraded for making personal identification. One of the primary and routine characterizations that medical examiners make in body identification is physical appearance, including racial or ethnic characteristics such as 'Caucasian male or Asian female, approximately 30 years of age.' This can often be a subjective, inferred assessment. In contrast, DNAWitness technology can provide a direct and objective description of a deceased person's genetic ancestry. Our social definitions of ethnic and racial groupings are surrogates for our actual genetic lineage. For example, while a victim may be characterized as African American based on physical appearance, the DNAWitness test may reveal that in fact he or she is an equal mixture of African and South Asian or other genetic groupings. Such delineation could be helpful in locating family members or demonstrating relatedness to community or family."
DNAWitness technology currently is being utilized by law enforcement authorities in more than 100 cases worldwide and has been instrumental in assisting investigators with high profile homicide cases across the United States.
About DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
DNAPrint genomics, Inc. (www.dnaprint.com) is a developer of genomics-based products and services focused on drug development, pharmacogenomic diagnostic tests, forensics technology and consumer genetic tests. DNAPrint's family of products for the law enforcement forensics and consumer markets include DNAWitness(tm) RETINOME(tm) (a predictive test for inferring eye color from a DNA sample), ANCESTRYbyDNA(tm), and EURO-DNA(tm). Recently announced and as a part of the Company's Trace Genetics acquisition, DNAWitness-Y and DNAWitness-Mito are two new tests that can be used as an identification tool when other DNA testing either fails to yield results or the sample might be too deteriorated.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, uncertainties relating to technologies, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of DNAPrint's products, dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, and patent protection and litigation. DNAPrint genomics, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in DNAPrint's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based.