Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) is working with relevant Government institutions to create the first ever inventor of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting for every citizen’s genetic information on the national register.
The Secretary General for RIB, Col. Jeannot Ruhunga explained that yet the creation of DNA database targetting about 12 million people is quite expensive, it would solve the problem of some individuals being listed even if they have been cleared of committing a crime.
Currently no specific figure of DNA profiles that are held in the police’s DNA Database. Reports said Police might also wish to retain information on cleared suspects, because they think they might go on to commit a crime in future. WIX media
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.
The information is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Speaking to reporters in Kigali, Col. Ruhunga explained that the purpose of the project is to find an effective, low cost method to record DNA for all Rwandan citizens.
In the meanwhile, health experts also believe that many diseases are caused by genetic mutation. DNA record could help identify disease or risk genes, so that people can seek treatment, it said.
CU/abj/APA