Nov. 11, 2005— Some of the greatest murder mysteries of all time, including the identity of Jack the Ripper, could be solved soon thanks to a major breakthrough in DNA technology, Australian researchers say.

Developed by Ian Findlay at Queensland's Griffith University, the method is able to extract and compile a DNA fingerprint from as little as one human cell up to 160 years old.

The technology, called Cell Track-ID, consists of modifications to the traditional DNA extraction technique — known as short tandem repeats (STR) profiling — which works by amplifying the DNA billions of times to look for very specific markers.

But while the STR method needs samples of 200 or more cells, Cell Track-ID provides single-cell forensic DNA fingerprinting.

Cell Track is very similar to the STR profiling, but the technique has been refined to have a much better extraction protocol. This keeps the DNA intact, therefore providing much more information and making it possible to examine the smallest genetic material that is up to 160 years old, Findlay told Discovery News.

The method has been tested on strands of hair found in a 150-year-old brooch. Cell Track revealed the hair came from four different people — three females and a male.

According to Findlay, the technology will open tremendous possibilities in forensic science, allowing the re-opening of old, unsolved murder cases.

"Potentially, it could also solve the mystery over the identity of Jack the Ripper," Findlay said.

The elusive Ripper carried out horrific murders between August and November 1888. At least five prostitutes in the Whitechapel area in London were found horribly disfigured, often with organs missing.

The name Jack the Ripper was coined in taunting letters sent to the press and police, in which the writer claimed credit for the crimes.

Ripper's career ended as suddenly as it had begun with the murderer still at large, making his case one of the history's greatest murder mysteries.

Findlay will first test the new technology on a lock of hair believed to be from Catherine Eddowes, one of Jack the Ripper's victims. Comparison with her descendants will tell if the hair is genuine.

The researcher will then use Cell Track to check saliva that could have been left behind by the notorious serial killer, if he licked the stamps on envelopes he sent to the London police.

"If we found DNA on the stamps we could compare that with DNA from the descendants of the suspects," Findlay said.