June 24 saw the birth of China's first 24-locus genotype ID card in Chongqing. This ID card, which can distinguish the certificate-holder from other 10 billion people, could provide more precise information in disease diagnosis, emergency treatment, parent-offspring identification and case investigation compared with earlier 18-locus card came out in Wuhan.
This color genotype ID card, about twice the size of ordinary ID card, has on it data such as photo, birth date, nationality and gender. In particular it is marked with 24 internationally used genetic locus which are chosen from the long chain of human cytogenetic information carrier DNA molecules. In the combination of the 24 genetic locus, with the exception of one egg giving birth to twins, it is difficult for one to find out such a circumstance wherein two persons out of 10 billion people are completely the same.
When conducting researches on born deformity in the family planning project using genetic diagnosis and parent-offspring identification techniques, the Chongqing Family Planning Research Institute found that human being's genetic locus could reach as many as 24.
Among 10 billion people, there possibly exist persons who are identical with you in birthday and name, similar in looks and same in voice, but only gene is the immutable indication representing your own hereditary feature. So the institute uses the 24 locus in individual discernment and parent-offspring identification, with a rate of accuracy reaching 999.99 and beyond. The test data for handling genotype ID card can be any human body's histocyte, such as blood (needing only one drop), hair (with ball top), skeleton, tooth, muscle and skin.
(People's Daily June 28, 2002)
