Taiwan has opened its first DNA bank, close to four years after the emergence of an ovum and umbilical cord blood bank in the island province.

The bank encourages people to preserve their DNA cells in the bank in case the need for genetic treatment or generational identification should arise.

This new bank mainly focuses on infants as earlier DNA samples keep much better than older ones.

DNA sampling is said to be much easier than taking ovum or umbilical cord blood.

Insiders say if kept at 80 degrees below zero, DNA can remain good for a hundred years.

(CRI May 11, 2004)