Analyzing the DNA of elephants may help trace the origins of ivory being sold illegally, information researchers hope will help foil such trade. Conservation experts say that elephants continue to be killed for their tusks despite a longtime ban on sales of elephant ivory. Use of the new system to trace the origins of each piece of ivory can help police determine areas where large-scale hunting is going on. A research team led by Samuel Wasser of the University of Washington developed the method. Their findings are reported in Monday’s issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
