Jack The Ripper

[Monstar]

I always thought it was Kosminski, over Tumblety, but surely the DNA would have been too far degraded by now.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2746321/Jack-Ripper-unmasked-How-amateur-sleuth-used-DNA-breakthrough-identify-Britains-notorious-criminal-126-years-string-terrible-murders.html

[Ric]

A very interesting article Johnny.

thanks for the link.

[multiweb]

Heard that on the news. Amazing what they can do with DNA these days.

[tlgerdes]

It still wont stifle speculation.

[deanm]

I'm a PhD scientist & used to work in the field of 'ancient DNA' (aDNA).

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/acad/

I've recovered aDNA from the tooth of an extinct horse from Siberia - 60,000 years old, so a few hundred years isn't astonishing at all.

Siberia is cold & dry, which is ideal for preserving aDNA, unlike the humid, tropical environment the Flores 'hobbit' remains were found in: we couldn't recover even the tiniest shred of aDNA.

Dean

[sjastro]

Evidently the research was not published in a peer reviewed scientific journal, hence the results cannot be independently verified nor the methodology analysed.

Even if one assumes there are no issues I suppose the evidence at best would be circumstantial in a court of law.

Steven

[strongmanmike]

That's the first thing I thought too..?

It is on the internet so well must be true huh..? :lol:

You kow what "they" say ;)

Mike

[hobbit]

Not exactly beyond reasonable doubt.

[GrahamL]

Its an interesting read,one thing that bothers me in further reading of this mans ongoing and long term mental health issues is that he could possibly
really of killed somone back then ,, but to do so 11 times ? ,,that to me reeks of a classic sociopath one who is in that group of suspects the least likely one you would pick ,,smart ,,educated above suspicion , not ,the guy whos eating scraps off the street and eventually starved himself to death because of his illness ?

On a side note the daily mail is a peer reviewed publication ...isn't it :D

[deanm]

The greatest challenge to recovering aDNA from old specimens is contamination by modern DNA - transfer by handling things without appropriate protection (double-gloving, disposable hooded full-body suit & face mask).

Peter Gill (a forensic scientist) is quite correct.

Dean

[el_draco]

That's amazing! Yet another "It'll never happen" has happened. :eyepop:

[MattT]

Thanks Johnny, would never have seen this otherwise. Got a few books on the Ripper, going to have to read them again.
Matt

[Hermean]

Yeah I was in so much shock when I learned that - primarily because we all took for granted it would be one of those unsolveable mysteries. Next thing we'll find Amelia Earhart's remains....or worse ghost...teeheeeheee