h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I saw a money transport today, where it said on the side the money was protected with traceable DNA. I've seen that before and I don't quite get what they mean. I handle the money, I get some DNA on me. Unless they then catch me for some other reason, before I've had a chance to wash my hands, what can they do? Am I right in thinking it's just to scare people who have seen too much CSI and think DNA is magical?

Tracing's easier than drawing it freehand?

I've never heard of this practise before, so I'm waffling off the top of my head.

I'm guessing that DNA, being a small but complex molecule (a) doesn't wash off too easily, and (b) is unique and easy to identify. Point b is the important one: There's an endless number of possible DNA molecules, so each consignment of valuables could have a unique marker. Also, DNA is fairly easy to work with, and the techniques needed to create a fingerprint from a minute trace already exist and have been well tested (and are legally admissible as evidence in court).

TRiG.

a little known fact about the money making processes of the government is that the last stage of manufacturing is a station where an employee pees on the money as it is conveyed along on the belt... then it is dried and packed...

but keep this quiet... i took a chance leaking it to you as it is...

as an interesting aside, needless to say women have had to fight for a right to be employed in this position... as it stands now, they are still working on squatting rights...

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you might say that it is turning into a real...

If the police suspect you of a robbery and then catch you spending the cash you stole (as identified by the dna trace on the money) then it makes it easier for them to prosecute? This would make it easier to follow batches of money that aren't necessarily consecutive serial numbers etc.

Not sure if this is true, just a guess...

I think DNA can be printed onto paper in the form of ink and used as another means to secure against counterfeiting.