A forensic kit that can identify a male rapist through his genetic material has been developed at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and should make it easier for police to arrest perpetrators.
This follows Y chromosome research by UWC’s Forensic DNA Lab in the Department of Biotechnology under the leadership of Professor Sean Davison. The research was headed by Dr Eugenia D’Amato.
The DNA lab started working on isolating the genetic information in the Y chromosome, which is present only in males, and its research took three years.
Davison said forensic pathologists could pick up male DNA more easily in a rape case, and this made it more useful in identifying the rapist, with investigators able to narrow down the range of possible aggressors.
“The technology is also good at excluding innocent men,” he said.
Similar kits are in use in North America and Europe, but cannot be used by local police because they are unsuitable for South African population groups since they do not take into account the genetic diversity of African populations.
The UWC research team looked at local regions with high gene variability between individuals, and the kit they developed was thoroughly tested against South Africa’s different population groups, Davison said.
It had been proved that the kit would help increase the conviction rate in rape cases, he added.
Davison also explained that the police used kits that analyse both female and male DNA.
“But this can be confusing and cluttered. This kit will supplement those in use and will support circumstantial evidence.”
The findings and results had been welcomed by the international forensics community and had been hailed by UWC as a feather in its cap and a giant step forward for justice and rape victims in South Africa, said D’Amato.
Although they had not yet developed the kit commercially, they would publish a database with genetic profiles of various African populations.
- UWC will host an international seminar tomorrow at the Library Auditorium from 11am to 3pm. Five internationally renowned DNA forensic experts will present findings of their research.
For more information, call 072 336 6385 or 072 268 9918. - Cape Argus