] The DNA is then amplified using a standard technique
] called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which takes a
] couple of hours. Lastly, the amplified sample is "typed"
] to give the profile. This also takes a couple of hours.
]
] Charlotte Word, laboratory director at Orchid Cellmark,
] Maryland, which conducted DNA tests on the victims of the
] September 11 attacks, is also surprised by the speed of
] the testing, but agrees it is possible with a good blood
] or saliva sample.
]
] She notes that tests for use in criminal cases often
] takes much longer because samples are scant or
] contaminated.

] "They certainly had access to the two sons, Uday and
] Qusay, who were killed," he says. A "very quick way" of
] identifying Saddam Hussein would be to compare the new
] sample with variable regions called short tandem repeats
] on the sons' Y-chromosomes. As this male sex chromosome
] is passed directly from father to son, it should match.

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