BOGOR, Indonesia, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Officials battling a global illegal timber trade worth an estimated $23 billion say they'll turn to DNA as a weapon to track and identify the source of woods.
The Center for International Forestry Research, based in Bogor, Indonesia, says a lot of timber sold with the Forest Stewardship Council's sustainable logo even breaks FSC rules -- and DNA might be a better way to determine where wood is coming from, NewScientist.com reported Wednesday.
"Tree DNA is still present in tables, chairs, floors, decking and even guitars -- but as the wood has been kiln-dried and treated with chemicals, the DNA is like a messed-up jigsaw puzzle," Andrew Lowe of DoubleHelix in Singapore said.
A technique originally developed to piece together the DNA of extinct animals can be used to reconstruct wood DNA.
"Companies can prove the origin of their finished wood products, helping eliminate fraud," Lowe said.
DoubleHelix says it will set up genetic checkpoints throughout the supply chain, and wood DNA databases will allow the timber's true origin to be pinpointed with increasing accuracy.
