The Ministry of Justice Investig-ation Bureau has established a wildlife gene databank, which includes the gene maps of some endemic subspecies, to help the nation combat the illegal animal trade, officials said yesterday.
The bureau began to collate wildlife genetic data in 1993 when Taiwan came under international pressure to intensify wildlife protection and crack down on illegal trading in endangered species and their products.
At that time, some people were smuggling products made from protected animals by cutting them into slices or grinding them into powder. Customs officers had difficulty identifying the protected animal remains, and the absence of a wildlife gene bank made DNA tests meaningless.
The Council of Agriculture then sought the assistance of the investigation bureau, which had the necessary DNA testing technology and equipment.
The bureau first cooperated with Taipei City Zoo, which furnished it with blood or saliva samples from its animals. The bureau then mapped DNA sequences of various endangered fauna species for reference.
In addition, the bureau managed to secure samples of indigenous wildlife species from Thailand, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, including tiger bones, ivory, bear bile and snakes, for gene mapping work.
After more than 10 years of hard work, the bureau has finally set up a comprehensive wildlife gene databank which includes genetic blueprints or DNA data of nearly all the nation's endemic subspecies, such as the Formosan black bear, the clouded leopard and the Lanyu scops owl.
With its detailed genetic data concerning endemic subspecies, the bureau wildlife gene databank has attracted wide international attention since it was linked with major world wildlife gene libraries earlier this year.
Bureau officials said they have spent much time collecting samples of Taiwan's endemic species, some of which are almost extinct.
"Sometimes, we have to travel around the island to search for specimens left from earlier times. We need only a few hairs to sort out DNA of a subspecies and build up its gene data," a bureau forensic expert said.
DNA is a kind of genetic fingerprint unique to each individual. It transmits hereditary characteristics from parents to offspring.
If no specimens are available, he said, the bureau will use animal feces, feathers or skin provided by private wildlife field study teams.
Thanks to the completion of the wildlife gene databank, the bureau has unexpectedly discovered that some frozen beef products sold in local markets might be kangaroo, horse or even sea turtle meat.
Bureau forensic experts said they have reported the findings to the Department of Health, which has directed city and county health bureaus to intensify market surveys to detect bogus beef. So far, no such cases have been uncovered.
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