AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums About Belize Culture First Building Block: A Belizean Baseline For DNA

Diana Bol of Forensic Services explained that this is the first step towards setting up a system for DNA testing:

Diana Bol - National Forensic Science Services
"Majority of the countries here in the region, they already have this study done. What it does is that it tells your background, to tell how rare a person's profile might be so that you can connect them in the future. However, this particular study will not be recording the information such as names, address, or anything like that to link any person. It is purely to get an entire profile of the country of Belize based on anonymity."

Jules Vasquez
"How can I participate if I want to be in your sample?"

Diana Bol
"We'll be at the compound for the Central Medical Laboratory between the hours of 9 and 3, and all we will do is a simple test utilizing sterile swabs. We'll take the swabs, and we'll gently rub inside of your cheeks to collect your skin cells, and this is the finish product. It should not be invasive, or cause any discomfort. Your payment is knowledge that you are assisting your country in establishing DNA here."

The samples will be collected tomorrow from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in front of the medical lab near the Social Security Belize City Office. They need to collect at least 300 samples.

Channel 7