Japan researchers can now solve crime by using mosquito-sucked blood

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Is it necessary for bad guys to be aware of mosquitoes when committing a crime? The answer might be "yes" now.

Researchers from Japan's Nagoya University and Saitama Medical University have discovered that genetic information of criminals can be identified through their blood sucked by mosquitoes.

In the recent paper published by the Public Library of Science, researchers pointed out that it is likely to find mosquitoes that contain blood of criminals in a summer crime scene. DNA can be extracted if within 48 hours, which helps the police to track the offender.

A mosquito takes flight as it leaves its host's skin surface with a newly-obtained blood. /VCG Photo

Two types of mosquitoes that are common in Japan were used as experimental subjects. According to researchers, these specially bred winged insects can cause no harm for human body. Fifteen microsatellite DNA were used as measurement criteria during the experiment.

The residual blood volume was tested every hour after subjects fed on human blood. Result shows that all DNA could be identified if within 12 hours. However, since DNA could be gradually digested by mosquitoes as time goes on, it was hard to find trace after 48 hours, and it leaves no trace if after 72 hours.

Researchers claimed that more quantitative analysis on DNA will be conducted in order to increase accuracy of finding "the time of crime" from mosquito-sucked blood.